Marcus Tullius Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) was a Roman philosopher, and a poet, lawyer, rhetorician and politician. His life coincided with the decline and fall of the Roman Republic. He played an important role in the political events of the time and his commentaries are now used as historical sources for the events leading to the end of the Republic. Philosophy was a secondary interest, taken up only when he was deprived of a role on the political scene.

William Guild (1582-1657) was an eminent theologian, becoming principal of King’s College, Aberdeen. He left 150 books from his library to St Andrews University.

Archibald Whitelaw (1415/16-1498) was a cleric, diplomat and classical scholar, serving as royal secretary for 31 years; he held the positions of the archdeaconry of Moray (1463–1467), the archdeaconry of Lothian (1470–1498), and the subdeanery of Glasgow (1482–1498). He was a leading humanist, collecting a fine library of classics. He used many references from them in his celebrated Oratio to Richard III when on a diplomatic mission to negotiate a peace treaty in 1484.

From the guide to the Cicero, Opera Philosophica, c.1480., c.1480, (University of St Andrews)