Scott, Sir Robert Forsyth, Master of St John's College

Person

Scott, Sir Robert Forsyth, Master of St John's College

1849 - 1933

Robert Forsyth Scott was born on 28 July 1849, at St Thomas Manse, Leith, Edinburgh. He was the eldest son of the Rev. George Scott and his wife, Mary (daughter of Robert Forsyth). He was baptised on 16th August 1849, and was educated at High School, Edinburgh, and then in Stuttgart and London before being admitted pensioner to St John's College in 1871. At St John's he was elected to a scholarship in 1873, after which he obtained his BA (4th Wrangler, 1875), MA (1878), before being elected to a fellowship in 1877, which he retained until 1908. He was Assistant Master at Christ's Hospital 1877-9. Scott then went on to study law, being admitted to Lincoln's Inn in December 1876 and then being called to the Bar in 1880. He was Junior Proctor to the University 1887-8 and Senior Bursar for St John's College 1888-1908, before being elected to the office of Master following the death of Charles Taylor in 1908. He also served the office of Vice-Chancellor for the period 1910-12, and received the honorary degree of LL.D. at St Andrews. In 1922 he became a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn, and in 1924 he received the honour of Knighthood.

During the course of his career he had several important publications, which included the History of St John's College in 1907, and many papers on the College History. His recreational interests included rowing, as well as antiquarian and biographical pursuits. In 1898 he married Jenny Webster, the daughter of General Thomas Edward Webster. Robert Forsyth Scott died on 18th November 1933, at Cambridge.

The Eagle, Volume XLVIII, No. 212, Michaelmas Term 1933 (January 1934)

Scott, Sir Robert Forsyth, (28 July 1849-18 Nov. 1933), Master of St John's College, Cambridge, Since 1908, Who's Who & Who Was Who

Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses