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Fraserburgh University
The University of Fraserburgh was a short-lived university founded in 1592 in Fraserburgh, Scotland by Sir Alexander Fraser of Philorth. Despite ambitious plans and parliamentary support, the university ultimately failed to develop fully and closed in 1617.
In 1588, Sir Alexander Fraser had obtained a charter to have Faithlie, as it was then known, be established as a burgh of barony. Four years later it was renamed Fraserburgh, and became a Burgh of royalty, despite protests from Aberdeen over what they viewed as an infringement on their rights.
In 1592, Fraser was granted a charter to establish a university or college there, with the general assembly of the town quickly supporting it, offering the patronage of two of the town's churches (Tyrie and Rathen). King James conferred onto it all the privileges that other universities were usually granted. It is possible that Earl Marischal's personal rivalry with Fraser resulted in him founding Marischal College in Aberdeen. The university was confirmed on 16 December 1597 by parliament, who agreed to reimburse the costs of establishing it, since Fraser had expended much of his fortune on the scheme. The general assembly of Fraserburgh granted land to Fraser for the university.
Charles Ferme, an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh who had previously been made Minister of Philorth in 1598 (as Fraser had insisted that whoever took the charge as minister would also have to be the principal), was made the principal of the university in 1600, which was at this point a "spacious quadrangular building", three stories in height, located to the west of the town. However, after Ferme was sent to prison for taking part in the general assembly of Aberdeen in 1605, the university, now without a principal, fell into abeyance that same year. There is no record of what teaching took place during this period; however, it has been assumed the teaching was similar to that at Marischal College.
In 1609, Ferme was restored to his parish and college, where he continued to teach until his death in 1617. The writings by Ferme (such as the lost Lectiones in Esterem and the surviving Analysis logica in epistolam apostoli Pauli ad Romanos) indicate that teaching did take place, with John Adamson noting "with what zeal he taught at Fraserburgh". After the death of Ferme, the college fell into decay, having lost out to Marischal College, and consequently closed for good.
During the 1647 plague breakout in Aberdeen, King's College was temporarily moved to the old college buildings.
The college buildings had been mostly demolished by the early 18th century, with the tower being demolished as early as the late 17th century. A house to the west of the town was said to have been built with materials taken from the college, with four of the stones bearing inscriptions. In the mid 19th century, Reverend A. Gruar Forbes described the remains of the college:
The old tower can scarcely be said to be still extant. It has been reduced to a heap, and is almost covered with soil and herbage. Last time I saw it there was a couple of goats feeding on the top of it.
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Fraserburgh University
The University of Fraserburgh was a short-lived university founded in 1592 in Fraserburgh, Scotland by Sir Alexander Fraser of Philorth. Despite ambitious plans and parliamentary support, the university ultimately failed to develop fully and closed in 1617.
In 1588, Sir Alexander Fraser had obtained a charter to have Faithlie, as it was then known, be established as a burgh of barony. Four years later it was renamed Fraserburgh, and became a Burgh of royalty, despite protests from Aberdeen over what they viewed as an infringement on their rights.
In 1592, Fraser was granted a charter to establish a university or college there, with the general assembly of the town quickly supporting it, offering the patronage of two of the town's churches (Tyrie and Rathen). King James conferred onto it all the privileges that other universities were usually granted. It is possible that Earl Marischal's personal rivalry with Fraser resulted in him founding Marischal College in Aberdeen. The university was confirmed on 16 December 1597 by parliament, who agreed to reimburse the costs of establishing it, since Fraser had expended much of his fortune on the scheme. The general assembly of Fraserburgh granted land to Fraser for the university.
Charles Ferme, an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh who had previously been made Minister of Philorth in 1598 (as Fraser had insisted that whoever took the charge as minister would also have to be the principal), was made the principal of the university in 1600, which was at this point a "spacious quadrangular building", three stories in height, located to the west of the town. However, after Ferme was sent to prison for taking part in the general assembly of Aberdeen in 1605, the university, now without a principal, fell into abeyance that same year. There is no record of what teaching took place during this period; however, it has been assumed the teaching was similar to that at Marischal College.
In 1609, Ferme was restored to his parish and college, where he continued to teach until his death in 1617. The writings by Ferme (such as the lost Lectiones in Esterem and the surviving Analysis logica in epistolam apostoli Pauli ad Romanos) indicate that teaching did take place, with John Adamson noting "with what zeal he taught at Fraserburgh". After the death of Ferme, the college fell into decay, having lost out to Marischal College, and consequently closed for good.
During the 1647 plague breakout in Aberdeen, King's College was temporarily moved to the old college buildings.
The college buildings had been mostly demolished by the early 18th century, with the tower being demolished as early as the late 17th century. A house to the west of the town was said to have been built with materials taken from the college, with four of the stones bearing inscriptions. In the mid 19th century, Reverend A. Gruar Forbes described the remains of the college:
The old tower can scarcely be said to be still extant. It has been reduced to a heap, and is almost covered with soil and herbage. Last time I saw it there was a couple of goats feeding on the top of it.