Patrick Sands

Patrick Sands (c. 1567–1635[1]) was the third Principal of the University of Edinburgh, serving from 1620 until demitting office in 1622.

He was educated as a member of the original class to enter the University of Edinburgh on its opening in 1583, graduating in 1587. He tutored at the University from 1589 to 1597, before travelling abroad, studying law and practising as an advocate.[2] He was a "layman who had been unsuccessful at the bar".[3]

In 1620 Henry Charteris resigned as Principal of the University, and Sands was appointed by the town council, in an act which "many thought scandalous nepotism"[3] – Sands was the brother-in-law of David Aikinhead, a prominent councillor and future Lord Provost.[2] The Principal had previously doubled as Professor of Divinity, but as Sands was not a theologian, Andrew Ramsay was separately appointed Professor of Divinity and Rector.[4]

Notes

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. "Patrick Sands (c1567-1635)". University of Edinburgh: Our History. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
3. Kerr, John (2014). Scottish Education: School and University. Cambridge University Press. p. 152. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
4. "Separation of Roles of Principal and Professor of Divinity, 1620". University of Edinburgh: Our History. Retrieved 4 July 2019.

Academic offices
Preceded by Henry Charteris	Principals of Edinburgh University 1620–1622	Succeeded by Robert Boyd