William Robertson
1721–1793
Nationality: Scottish
Historical Period: The 18th Century
William Robertson (1721-1793) was a Scottish Presbyterian minister, Principal (Chancellor) of the University of Edinburgh (1762-93), historian, and an important figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. He was one of the original members of the Select Society, which included Hume, Smith, Ferguson, Monboddo, and Kames, among others. He wrote a History of Scotland (1759), a History of Europe during the reign of Charles V (1769), and a History of America (1777).