University of Aberdeen James Blair, (1656–1743), clergyman, founder of College of William and Mary Robert Brown (1773–1858), botanist; discoverer of Brownian Motion James Burnett, Lord Monboddo (1714–99), jurist, philosopher, linguist; thinker on evolution Patrick Copland (1749-1822) Robert Davidson (1804–1894), Pioneer and inventor of first electric locomotive (1837) Charles D. F. Phillips (1830–1904) was a British medical doctor and author. Sir William Duff Gibbon (1837-1919), Ceylonese tea planter and politician Sir David Gill, (1843–1914), astrophotographer James Gregory (1638–1675), Scottish mathematician and astronomer Cosmo Gordon (1736-1800) MP, co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, twice Rector of the College Robert Hunter (1823–1897), missionary, geologist and editor of Encyclopædic Dictionary Alexander Keith Church of Scotland theologian Nathaniel Lardner (1684–1768), English theologian Sir John Mowlem Burt, contractor Sir James Outram, 1st Baronet, General, hero of the Indian Revolt of 1857, buried in Westminster Abbey William Pargeter (1760–1810), medical doctor who wrote about mental illness Sir Alexander Ogston, Scottish surgeon; discoverer of Staphylococcus aureus Rev John Skinner (1721–1807), poet, historian and ecclesiastic. William Trail (1746-1831), mathematician. Principals Robert Howie from 1593 to 1598 Gilbert Gray 1598 to 1614 Andrew Adie 1616 to 1619 Rev Dr William Forbes 1620/21 Patrick Dun 1621 to 1649 William Moir 1649 to 1661 James Leslie 1661 to 1678 Robert Paterson 1678 to 1717 Thomas Blackwell 1717 to 1728 John Osborne 1728 to 1748 Thomas Blackwell (son) 1748 to 1757 Robert Pollock 1757 to 1759 George Campbell 1758 to 1796 William Laurence Brown 1796 to 1830 Daniel Dewar 1832 to 1860 In 1860 the college merged with King's College, Aberdeen to create the University of Aberdeen. Other notable academics Robert Barron (minister) Professor of Divinity See also List of early modern universities in Europe References External links e-Architect coverage of Marischal College Redevelopment The Marischal Museum The University of Aberdeen 1593 establishments in Scotland 1860 disestablishments in Scotland School buildings completed in 1844 Category A listed buildings in Aberdeen Educational institutions established in the 1590s University of Aberdeen