John Shank More

John Shank More (sometimes written as John Schank More) LL.D FRSE RSA (1784–1861) held the Chair as Professor of Scots Law at the University of Edinburgh from 1843 to 1861. He was involved in the anti-slavery movement and was vice-president of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts.

Life

More was born in North Shields in County Durham, the son of Reverend George More (1744-1827), for some time Presbyterian minister at South Shields, and his wife Catharine (1749-1827). His parents retired to Edinburgh around 1805, living at 82 Nicolson Street. His parents later moved to 4 Hill Square.

He was called to the Bar in 1806.

He married Mary Gillespie (1784-1849) in 1811. They initially lived near his parents at 32 Nicolson Street. In the 1820s he was living at 19 Great King Street.

He edited John Erskine's Principles and Stair's Institutions. He was considered "a suitably learned man who inspired some affection in his students despite the dullness of his lecturing style".

He was involved in the sudden departure of Karl Pearson's father from the University of Edinburgh.

In 1820 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Thomas Thomson, Sir David Brewster and James Bonar.

In the 1830s he is listed as living at 19 Great King Street, in a Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh's New Town.

He was President of the Royal Scottish Society of the Arts 1844–45.

Death

He died at home 19 Great King Street in Edinburgh on 12 July 1861 and is buried in his parents' grave in the churchyard of St John's Episcopal Churchyard at the west end of Princes Street. p. 234