David Laing
< Back to author list
David Laing was a celebrated Scottish antiquary and bibliophile, best known as the editor of John Knox's Works (1846 - 64).
He was the son of William Laing (1761–1831), a bookseller in Edinburgh, and his wife, Helen Kirk. They lived and worked from the head of Chessels Court on the Canongate.
David Laing was educated at Canongate Grammar School and then attended the University of Edinburgh. At fourteen he was apprenticed to his father. They formed W. & D. Laing Booksellers at 49 South Bridge. Shortly after the death of his father in 1837, Laing was elected to the librarianship of the Signet Library in replacement of Macvey Napier, a post he retained till his death. Apart from general bibliographical knowledge, Laing was best known as a student of the literary and artistic history of Scotland.
For over fifty years, Laing was a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and contributed over a hundred papers to their Proceedings. He was an original member of and the long-standing secretary to the Bannatyne Club, many of whose publications were edited by him.
He was the son of William Laing (1761–1831), a bookseller in Edinburgh, and his wife, Helen Kirk. They lived and worked from the head of Chessels Court on the Canongate.
David Laing was educated at Canongate Grammar School and then attended the University of Edinburgh. At fourteen he was apprenticed to his father. They formed W. & D. Laing Booksellers at 49 South Bridge. Shortly after the death of his father in 1837, Laing was elected to the librarianship of the Signet Library in replacement of Macvey Napier, a post he retained till his death. Apart from general bibliographical knowledge, Laing was best known as a student of the literary and artistic history of Scotland.
For over fifty years, Laing was a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and contributed over a hundred papers to their Proceedings. He was an original member of and the long-standing secretary to the Bannatyne Club, many of whose publications were edited by him.
Books By David Laing
Sort By
