David Laing (antiquary)

The grave of David Laing, New Calton Burial Ground, Edinburgh

Laing was born on 20 April 1793, the son of William Laing (1761–1831), a bookseller in Edinburgh, and his wife Helen Kirk.[1] They lived and worked from the head of Chessels Court on the Canongate.[2]

He was educated at Canongate Grammar School and then attended the University of Edinburgh. At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to his father. They formed W & D Laing Booksellers at 49 South Bridge, living at Ramsay Lodge at 66 Lauriston in 1830.[3] Shortly after the death of his father in 1837, Laing was elected to be Librarian of the Signet Library replacing Macvey Napier, a post he retained until his death. Apart from general bibliographical knowledge, Laing was best known as a student of the literary and artistic history of Scotland.[4]

In 1864 he was awarded an honorary doctorate (LLD) by the University of Edinburgh.[5]

Laing was struck with paralysis in October 1878 while in the Signet Library, and it is said that, on recovering consciousness, he looked about and asked if a proof of Wyntoun had been sent from the printers. He died a few days afterwards, aged 85, at his home, 68 Promenade in Portobello.[6] He is buried in New Calton Burial Ground in east Edinburgh. The grave lies on the north wall near the northeast corner.

His library was sold at auction by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge over a period of 31 days, and realised £16,137. He bequeathed his collection of manuscripts to the University of Edinburgh.[7]

Plaque in James Street in Portobello

Laing published no original books but edited the works of others. Of these, the major ones are: William Dunbar's Works (2 vols., 1834), with a supplement added in 1865; Robert Baillie's Letters and Journals (3 vols.; 1841–42); John Knox's Works (6 vols.; 1846–64); Poems and Fables of Robert Henryson (1865); Andrew of Wyntoun's Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland (3 vols.; 1872–79); and Sir David Lyndsay's Poetical Works (3 vols.; 1879).

For over 50 years, Laing was a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and contributed over 100 papers to its Proceedings. He was an original member of and the long-standing secretary to the Bannatyne Club, many of whose publications were edited by him.

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Laing, David". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 83.

• "Biographical Memoir" prefixed to Select Remains of Ancient, Popular and Romance Poetry of Scotland, edited by John Small (Edinburgh, 1885)
• Thomas George Stevenson, Notices of David Laing with List of his Publications, etc. (privately printed 1878).

• Works by David Laing at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about David Laing at Internet Archive