Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee

Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee FRSE (15 October 1747 – 5 January 1813) was a Scottish advocate, judge, writer, and historian who was a Professor of Universal History and of Greek and Roman Antiquities at the University of Edinburgh.

Tytler was born in the Old Town of Edinburgh, the eldest son of Ann Craig of Costerton (1722–1783) and her husband William Tytler of Woodhouselee (author of Inquiry into the Evidence against Mary Queen of Scots). He was educated at Edinburgh High School and Kensington Academy in London (1763/64), and then studied law at the University of Edinburgh, qualifying as an advocate in 1770.

In 1771 he made a tour of France with his cousin, James Ker of Blackshiels.

In 1773 he was living and working with his father, also an advocate, at Campbells Close on the Royal Mile.

In 1780 he was appointed joint professor of Civil History at the University of Edinburgh alongside Prof Pringle. He then moved to Browns Square. He became sole professor in 1786 on the death of Pringle.

In 1790 he became Judge Advocate of Scotland. In 1795 he became seriously ill, and could not attend court.

In 1802 he became a Lord of Session in the Scottish Courts, with the judicial title Lord Woodhouselee.

Tytler's other positions included Senator of the College of Justice and George Commissioner of Justiciary in Scotland. Tytler was a friend of Robert Burns, and prevailed upon him to remove lines from his poem "Tam o' Shanter" which were insulting to the legal and clerical professions.