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Hugh Alexander Webster
Professor Hugh Alexander Webster FRSE, FRSGS (1849 – 7 January 1926) was a Scottish teacher, librarian and encyclopaedist.
The son of Rev David Webster and Isabella McKinnon, Hugh Webster was born in Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, and educated first privately by his father and later at Edinburgh University (1878–80). He became a teacher at Merchiston Castle Academy and later Librarian at the University.
He was a member of a group of encyclopaedists working in Edinburgh in the late 19th century including William Robertson Smith (editor of the Encyclopædia Britannica and contributor to the Encyclopaedia Biblica); David Patrick (editor of Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Chambers's Biographical Dictionary, and Chambers's Cyclopaedia of English Literature); J Sutherland Black (editor of Encyclopaedia Biblica); George Sandeman, (editor in chief of Nelson's Encyclopaedia) and Patrick Geddes.
Hugh Webster was fluent in fourteen languages which allowed him to access sources from European and Asian writers.
Patrick Geddes, writing from Montpellier in 1926 said:
"In my young days in Edinburgh, some five and forty years ago, I was fortunate in knowing and working for the brilliant group of encyclopedists then so active, and among whom Robertson Smith, Sutherland Black and David Patrick of Chamber's, are best remembered. But besides these three mighty men, there were other widely cultivated and able scholars and writers; and among these, to my mind, the very first of all was Hugh Webster. His varied interests were the expression of a widely sympathetic nature, with its openness widely rewarded by a wealth of knowledge: and his conversation was thus always bright, fresh and original - indeed often fascinating! Geography was thus to him as living as if he had known its scenes from travel, history as if he had lived through it and literature as if he had collaborated in its production."
Geddes also reported a comment from his friend and colleague George Sandeman
in his editing of Nelson's Encyclopaedia, Webster was his most able and valued co-adjutor.
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Hugh Alexander Webster
Professor Hugh Alexander Webster FRSE, FRSGS (1849 – 7 January 1926) was a Scottish teacher, librarian and encyclopaedist.
The son of Rev David Webster and Isabella McKinnon, Hugh Webster was born in Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, and educated first privately by his father and later at Edinburgh University (1878–80). He became a teacher at Merchiston Castle Academy and later Librarian at the University.
He was a member of a group of encyclopaedists working in Edinburgh in the late 19th century including William Robertson Smith (editor of the Encyclopædia Britannica and contributor to the Encyclopaedia Biblica); David Patrick (editor of Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Chambers's Biographical Dictionary, and Chambers's Cyclopaedia of English Literature); J Sutherland Black (editor of Encyclopaedia Biblica); George Sandeman, (editor in chief of Nelson's Encyclopaedia) and Patrick Geddes.
Hugh Webster was fluent in fourteen languages which allowed him to access sources from European and Asian writers.
Patrick Geddes, writing from Montpellier in 1926 said:
"In my young days in Edinburgh, some five and forty years ago, I was fortunate in knowing and working for the brilliant group of encyclopedists then so active, and among whom Robertson Smith, Sutherland Black and David Patrick of Chamber's, are best remembered. But besides these three mighty men, there were other widely cultivated and able scholars and writers; and among these, to my mind, the very first of all was Hugh Webster. His varied interests were the expression of a widely sympathetic nature, with its openness widely rewarded by a wealth of knowledge: and his conversation was thus always bright, fresh and original - indeed often fascinating! Geography was thus to him as living as if he had known its scenes from travel, history as if he had lived through it and literature as if he had collaborated in its production."
Geddes also reported a comment from his friend and colleague George Sandeman
in his editing of Nelson's Encyclopaedia, Webster was his most able and valued co-adjutor.