Biographical Register of the University of St Andrews, 1747‐1897

When I first met Robert Smart 37 years ago he had already been working for several years on the magnum opus which he has now completed. Scotland's oldest university was founded in 1411, and has never had a biographical directory until now. Smart, however, has had to confine himself to the period 1747‐1897 as being that with the fullest source material; in earlier times the records of the University (which were in his keeping for many years) are not in sufficient detail to give a comprehensive picture of its alumni.

The Register in fact covers not only alumni and graduates,...