David Laing

David Laing (1793 – 1878) 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…more

edit descriptions of this character

David Laing's photo gallery

No photos have been uploaded yet.

Books with David Laing

	The Life and Works of Robert Baillie (1602 - 1662): Politics, Religion and Record-Keeping in the British Civil Wars by Alexander D. Campbell it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2017 add/edit characters	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Recovering Scottish History: John Hill Burton and Scottish National Identity in the Nineteenth Century by Craig Beveridge really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2022 add/edit characters	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Bannatyne Club by James Thomson Gibson Craig 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings add/edit characters	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Scottish Antiquarian Tradition: Essays to Mark the Bicentenary of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 1780 - 1980 by Alan S. Bell (Editor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1982 add/edit characters	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Book-Hunter etc. by John Hill Burton 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1862 add/edit characters	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars