William Ogilvie of Pittensear facts for kids

William Ogilvie (1736–1819) was a Scottish professor and writer. He was known as the Rebel Professor. He was also called the "Euclid of Land Law Reform" by his biographer. Ogilvie was an expert in ancient languages and coins. He wrote an important book about land reform.

His main book, An Essay on the Right of Property in Land, was published in 1781. It was released without his name on it. This was common in a time of big changes, like revolutions. Ogilvie is seen as an early thinker for Georgist ideas. His book has been republished many times, often under the title Birthright in Land. Many reformers around the world have been influenced by his ideas.

Life of William Ogilvie

William Ogilvie was born in 1736. His family lived in Pittensear, Scotland. He was the only son of James Ogilvie and Marjory Steuart. He likely grew up at home and went to school in Elgin. Elgin was about 5 miles (8 km) away.

In 1755, when he was 19, Ogilvie started studying at King's College in Aberdeen. He finished his degree in 1759. After that, he taught at the Grammar School in Cullen for a year. He then studied at Glasgow University and Edinburgh University. While at Glasgow, he was there when James Watt was showing his new inventions. Adam Smith, a famous economist, was also teaching there.

In 1761, Ogilvie became an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at King's College, Aberdeen. By 1764, he was a Regent. The next year, he became a Professor of Humanity. He taught this subject until he retired in 1817. Ogilvie lived a quiet life and never married. He is buried in St. Machar's Cathedral in Old Aberdeen. His gravestone says he was a Professor of Humanity. An obituary called him "one of the most accomplished scholars of the age".

Ogilvie's Book: Birthright in Land

Ogilvie's book, An Essay on the Right of Property in Land, had a clear goal. It wanted to show how owning land could help "the lower ranks of mankind" more. His biographer said that many important people ignored his work. Because of this, most ordinary people never learned about his ideas.

In his book, Ogilvie said that everyone has a right to an equal share of the value of land. He suggested ways to make this happen over time. He believed that land value has three parts. The first and third parts (the original value and the value it could gain) belong to the community. Only the second part (improvements made by the owner) belongs to the landholder.

Ogilvie's ideas were a early version of land value taxation. This is an economic idea where the community collects rent from land. Ogilvie wrote his book between 1776 and 1781. This was during a time of big changes, like the American Declaration of Independence. He wanted to warn people that sudden big changes could be dangerous.

Despite being ignored by some, Ogilvie's work did have an impact. A copy of his book was found with Frederick the Great, a modernizing king. Ogilvie also helped with land reforms in India in 1793. These reforms were led by Lord Cornwallis.

Ogilvie's work was praised as an important contribution to economics. His ideas were later developed by the American reformer Henry George. George wrote the famous book Progress and Poverty. Ogilvie's insights from the Scottish Enlightenment helped inspire modern land reform and Green movements.

Friend of Robert Burns

Some people believe that Ogilvie knew the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. There is no direct proof, but there are some clues that suggest they were friends.

Ogilvie as a Landowner

Ogilvie came from a family that improved farms. He was a gentleman farmer and landlord. He managed part of his family's land at Pittensear until 1772. He later sold this land but kept living in the main house.

In 1773, Ogilvie bought more land near Aberdeen. He spent 35 years improving this land. He sold it in 1808. Even though he was a professor, Ogilvie was also practical. His deep understanding of land helped him manage his own farms. His hands-on experience also made his theories stronger.

Antiquarian and Collector

Ogilvie was very good at translating old classical writers like Virgil and Horace. He also studied natural history and art. He loved old things, coins, and collecting. He collected natural items and rare pictures. His collection later became part of the Aberdeen University Zoology Museum. This is one of the oldest museums of its kind in the country.

Educational Reformer

While at Aberdeen, Ogilvie worked to improve education. He wanted to change how university honors were given out. He believed that universities were public places. He thought professors were public servants. This idea often caused disagreements with his colleagues.

Ogilvie likely wrote a paper about joining King's and Marischal Universities in Aberdeen. He wanted to make education better. His own college rejected his ideas. Seven out of ten professors were against it. These plans were finally put into action much later, in 1860.

In 1764, Ogilvie was also involved in a plan for a Public Library in Aberdeen. Like his education reforms, this project was not completed during his lifetime. However, it was achieved later. His biggest idea, sharing nature's resources fairly among all people, is still a goal today.