Important Study on Roman Law by a Scottish Scholar



David Irving [1778-1860] was originally a biographer, librarian, and author of a number of works who established his reputation in 1807 with Memoirs of the Life and Writings of George Buchanan. After its publication, he turned to his interest in law, and obtained the degree of doctor of laws from Marischal College, Aberdeen in 1808.



In 1815 he published Observations on the Study of the Civil Law as a pamphlet to aid candidates for admission into the Faculty of Advocates. It was enlarged in 1820 when he was appointed keeper of the library of the Faculty of Advocates, and again in 1823, then took final shape and publication in this volume in 1837. His writing on Roman jurisprudence is enhanced by his knowledge of classical literature.



Irving anonymously edited an edition of Selden's Table Talk in 1819, with notes, a new edition of which was published in 1854. Later Irving contributed three pieces on Canon, Civil, and Feudal Law, and most of the biographies of Scottish authors to the Encyclopedia Britannica, 7th edition. The biographies were later collected in the volumes Lives of Scotish Writers and published in 1839.