William Ross Hardie was born in Edinburgh in 1862. He was educated at Circus Place School in the city, and then studied at Edinburgh University where he was awarded the degree of MA in 1880. He then went on to study at Balliol College, Oxford, where he was awarded a BA. Hardie was Fellow and Tutor at Balliol, 1884-1895, and also Junior Proctor, 1893-1894. He became Professor of Humanity at Edinburgh University in 1895. Hardie's publications include Lectures on classical subjects (1903), Latin prose composition (1908), Silvulae academicae (1911), and Res metrica (1920). Professor William Ross Hardie died on 3 May 1916 after contracting a severe attack of influenza in January 1916.
Hardie's lectures had been attended by James Stirling Ross, later to become a civil servant. James Stirling Ross was born on 3 August 1877. He and was educated at Edinburgh's Royal High School and then studied at Edinburgh University, 1895-99, where he was awarded the degree of MA with 1st Class Honours in Classics. He then attended Balliol College, Oxford. His career as a civil servant began in 1900 at the then War Office. He became Private Secretary to the Chief of the General Staff, 1904-5, before serving at Aldershot and with the Scottish and Northern Commands, 1905-12, and then at the Finance Department. From 1912 until 1918 he was again at the War Office. Various postings followed until his retiral in 1938, but at the outbreak of war in September 1939, he rejoined for war service. Ross published The National Health Service in Great Britain: an historical and descriptive study (1952). Sir James Stirling Ross died on 2 October 1961.
From the guide to the Papers and Lectures of Professor William Ross Hardie (1862-1916), [ca. 1892-1911], (Edinburgh University Library)
