Professor John Cairns receives honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow
Mon 1 July 2024
On Wednesday, 19 June 2024 the University of Glasgow awarded Professor John Cairns, Professor of Civil Law at Edinburgh Law School, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. The degree was awarded by the University of Glasgow’s Chancellor and Olympian Gold Medallist Dr Dame Katherine Grainger. Dr Grainger Is also a former student of Professor Cairns from her time as an undergraduate law student at Edinburgh Law School.
The ceremony’s address was given by Professor John Finlay, Professor of Scots Law at the University of Glasgow School of Law and Edinburgh Law School alumnus; he described Professor Cairns as “one of the foremost legal historians which this country has produced.” Professor Cairns’ work was described as having done much to encourage the recent flourishing of historical scholarship on the study of slavery. His service to research, scholarly organisations, collegiality, encouragement of students and young researchers, and free assistance of other scholars was highlighted as well.
About this honour, Professor Cairns said: “I am particularly honoured that it was colleagues and peers who know me well who had recommended me for the degree, and that it was conferred on me by someone I had taught, a nice rounding of the circle. I was touched by the warm address by Professor Finlay, and the kind remarks of Dame Katherine.”
Professor Cairns added that he was delighted to be joining the community of the University of Glasgow, which is the university of his own sister and his mentor Professor Alan Watson. Professor Cairns wrote his thesis under the supervision of Professor Watson and Professor Sir Alexander McCall Smith; the influence of Professor Watson remains evident in his work, which focuses on the eighteenth century and the Enlightenment where he has explored legal theory, legal education at home and abroad, books, law and literature, and enslavement and law.
Edinburgh Law School would like to congratulate Professor Cairns on this honour.