George Neilson, LL.D., FSAScot, (7 December 185815 November 1923) was a Scottish historian, antiquary, and lawyer. Neilson is known for his scholarship relating to Scottish law, archaeology, and literature, with particular emphasis on medieval Scotland.
Early and personal life
He was the only child of Edward Neilson (1830–1861), a captain in the merchant navy, and his wife, Janet Paterson (1831–1903). Edward Neilson died in Buenos Aires in 1861. George was brought up in a house in Ruthwell which belonged to his mother's family, Horseclose Farm. He was later married on 24 June 1892 to Jane Ann Richardson (1859–1945), the daughter of Thomas Richardson, a cattle dealer from Hexham, and his wife, Ann Short. Together they had one son, who died aged three on 14 March 1894, and one daughter.
Education and Career
Neilson was educated at Cummertrees parish school and, from January 1872 to Christmas 1873 attended King William's College on the Isle of Man. Neilson later worked as an apprentice at a writer's office in Dumfries, and was also enrolled in the Scottish law class of Professor Robert Berry at the University of Glasgow in 1879–80. Neilson finished joint first in class and subsequently did well in the conveyancing class in 1880–81. In 1881 he qualified as a solicitor and in 1884 became a partner in Messrs Stodart and Neilson, writers, at 58 West Regent Street, Glasgow. Throughout his life and career Neilson was active in various clubs and societies associated with his professional and academic interests. In 1889 he became the president of the Glasgow Juridical Society, and in 1890 he was elected a member of the Glasgow Archaeological Society, of which he later served as president from 1907 to 1910. On 6 November 1891 he was appointed procurator fiscal of police in Glasgow, later becoming fiscal of the Glasgow dean of guild court on 2 November 1899. In 1901 he made an application for the chair of Scottish history at the University of Edinburgh, but was unsuccessful. In 1904 Neilson was listed in the membership of the Thirteen Club, also known as the Glasgow Thirteen. This was an exclusive club which met in various restaurants throughout Glasgow to discuss literature and art. Neilson was the president of the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow from 1913 to 1915, and of the Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club from 1914 to 1918. On 29 December 1909 he was appointed the first stipendiary police magistrate of Glasgow, an office which he held until May 1923, when he resigned on account of ill health. Neilson died at his home, Wellfield, 76 Partickhill Road, Partick, Glasgow, on 15 November 1923 after suffering for more than a year with stomach and bowel disease.
Scholarship
By his thirties Neilson had worked extensively with historical sources. In particular, he had amassed an in-depth knowledge of the sources of early Scottish history and of the history and development of Scottish law. He had also spent much time developing and honing the skills of an experienced charter scholar and an expert paleographer. Neilson was at the forefront of defining the direction of Scottish medieval studies amongst his contemporaries due to his first-hand experience of working with documents, charters, and records, as well as his ability to easily adapt to working with chronicles, place names, and topographical sources. Most of all, it was his tireless enthusiasm which meant he was constantly seeking to establish new arguments and undertake innovative research.
In 1887 he read Bracton's notebook, edited by Frederic William Maitland, which led Neilson to send a manuscript copy to Maitland of a study he had undertaken relating to the origin and early history of the duel. This work, which became Neilson's Trial by Combat, was well-received by Maitland and was published in Glasgow in 1890. The book was favourably received at the time and continues to be an important text, particularly in 'making clear the distinction between the judicial duel and the duel of chivalry'.