William Richardson (classicist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Richardson
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| Born | 1 October 1743 |
| Died | 3 November 1814 (aged 71) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
William Richardson (born October 1, 1743, died November 3, 1814) was a smart Scottish person who loved studying old languages and literature. He was known as a classicist and a literary scholar. In 1783, he helped create the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a special group for important thinkers and scientists in Scotland.
Early Life and Education
William Richardson was born in a place called Aberfoyle, which is in Scotland. His father, Reverend James Richardson, was a minister for the Church of Scotland in the same area. William first learned things from his father.
In 1757, when he was about 14, William went to the University of Glasgow. He was very good at learning different languages. He worked hard and earned his master's degree (MA) from the university in 1763.
Travels and Writings
After finishing his studies, William got a job working for Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart. He became a tutor, which means he taught Lord Cathcart's two sons.
In 1768, Lord Cathcart was chosen to be the ambassador to Russia. An ambassador is like a country's representative in another country. William went with the Cathcart family to Russia. During his time there, he wrote many letters describing what he saw and learned about Russia.
These letters were later published as a book in 1784. The book was called Anecdotes of the Russian Empire. People thought his letters gave a very good and true picture of what Russian society was like back then.
Professor and Scholar
William Richardson came back to Scotland in 1772. The next year, in 1773, he became a professor at the University of Glasgow. He taught "humanities," which includes subjects like literature, history, and philosophy.
He was a very popular teacher and attracted many smart students to Glasgow. This helped the university become a very important place for learning. William was interested in many kinds of literature, not just English. He also read books in German, Italian, and French.
He even wrote five books where he shared his thoughts and ideas about the famous writer William Shakespeare.
William Richardson never married and lived in his rooms at Glasgow University until he passed away in 1814.
Images for kids
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A portrait of William Richardson.
