Commemorative plaques
We erect commemorative plaques around the University to celebrate the achievements of individuals who have been associated with us throughout our 400-year history.
Robert Adam
![Adam plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-adam_0.jpg?itok=pgekXDlE)
Architect, creator of the University's Old College building, alumnus.
Charles Glover Barkla
![barkla plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-barkla_0.jpg?itok=bzeYR0hr)
Nobel Prize physicist, Chair in Natural Philosophy.
James Miranda Barry
![Barry plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-barry_0.jpg?itok=GZI_bV0s)
Pioneering British Army surgeon, first female graduate of the University.
Max Born
![Born plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-born_0.jpg?itok=aVKmI5Zf)
Nobel Prize physicist, Tait Professor of Natural Philosophy.
James Boswell
![Boswell plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-boswell_0.jpg?itok=geivZjZz)
Lawyer, diarist, author, biographer of Dr Samuel Johnson.
Thomas Carlyle
![Carlyle plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-carlyle_0.jpg?itok=6_GaN3Tj)
Historian, author of 'The French Revolution', University Rector, alumnus.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
![Conan Doyle plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-conan-doyle_0.jpg?itok=O6h6udog)
Author of Sherlock Holmes series of novels and stories, physician, alumnus.
William Dick
![Dick plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-dick.jpg?itok=r2BoRA-E)
Pioneer of veterinary science and education, founder of the Royal Dick Veterinary School.
Sir Patrick Geddes
![Geddes plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-geddes_0.jpg?itok=qz4WpEjl)
Biologist, sociologist, planner, founder of the first Scottish university student residence.
Peter Ware Higgs
![Higgs plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-higgs_0.jpg?itok=rWiMdREC)
Nobel Prize physicist, Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics.
David Hume
![Hume plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-hume_0.jpg?itok=2ewPtlft)
Philosopher, historian, author of 'A Treatise of Human Nature', alumnus.
James Hutton
![Hutton plaques](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-hutton.jpg?itok=wtDjzw0n)
Geologist, chemist, naturalist, founder of modern geology, alumnus.
Elsie Maud Inglis
![Inglis plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-inglis.jpg?itok=Va7fu1zF)
Founder of Scottish Women's Suffrage Federation and Scottish Women's Hospitals, alumna.
Sophia Jex-Blake
![Jex Blake plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-jex-blake_0.jpg?itok=sYujaHmU)
Physician, pioneer of medical education for women in Britain, alumna.
Baroness Jennie Lee
![Lee plaques](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-lee.jpg?itok=M3hJRu-M)
One of the first female Members of Parliament, founder of the Open University, alumna.
Eric Liddell
![Eric Liddell](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/eric-liddell-900x400.jpg?itok=bgiTzAhv)
Olympic 400 metre champion, teacher, missionary, alumnus.
Lord Joseph Lister
![Lister plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-lister.jpg?itok=kUZbjzZK)
Founder of antiseptic medicine and aseptic surgery, Regius Professor of Clinical Surgery.
Clement Litil
![Litil plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-litil_0.jpg?itok=kNj7RBir)
Advocate of a University in the city, benefactor and founder of the University's Library.
James Lorimer
![Lorimer plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-lorimer_0.jpg?itok=7Bfo8wxX)
Jurist, philosopher, Regius Professor of Public Law, alumnus.
Sorley Maclean
![Maclean plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-maclean.jpg?itok=yoDLRLwE)
Gaelic poet, teacher, Writer in Residence, honorary Doctor of Letters, alumnus.
Jessie Chrystal Macmillan
![Macmillan plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-macmillan_0.jpg?itok=k31E_83U)
Suffragist, founder of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, first female science alumna.
William McEwan
![Mcewan plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-mcewan_0.jpg?itok=srjbXpsN)
Founder of McEwan's Brewery, Member of Parliament for Edinburgh, major benefactor of the University.
Julius Kambarage Nyerere
![Nyerere plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-nyerere_0.jpg?itok=skzN1iRa)
African statesman, first President of Tanzania, alumnus.
William Henry Playfair
![Playfair plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-playfair_0.jpg?itok=FigrjAEW)
Architect of the University's Old College and New College buildings.
General John Reid
![Reid plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-reid_0.jpg?itok=IZVq-qxE)
British Army officer, flautist, composer, his benefaction established a Chair of Music.
Peter Mark Roget
![Roget plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-roget.jpg?itok=UF27KKth)
Physician, philologist, author of the Thesaurus of English Words & Phrases, alumnus.
Robert Rollock
![Rollock plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-rollock_0.jpg?itok=zdsnMwyx)
First Regent and first Principal of the University.
Benjamin Rush
![Rush plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-rush_0.jpg?itok=4wJ0q4bT)
Signatory of the American Declaration of Independence, physician, alumnus.
Sir Walter Scott
![Scott plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-scott_0.jpg?itok=3Pq-dDON)
Prolific novelist, poet, historian, lawyer and alumnus.
Sir Robert Sibbald
![Sibbald plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-sibbald.jpg?itok=LiDghThr)
Professor of Medicine, founder of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, alumnus.
James Young Simpson
![Simpson plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-simpson_0.jpg?itok=6wjrdxH_)
Pioneer of anaesthetics, Professor of Midwifery, alumnus.
Robert Louis Stevenson
![Stevenson plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-stevenson.jpg?itok=yPefVYeW)
Poet, author of Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, alumnus.
Sir Charles Wyville Thomson
![Thomson plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-thomson-charles.jpg?itok=sIJ9Ezti)
Challenger expedition leader, Professor of Natural History, alumnus.
Sir Godfrey Thomson
![Thomson Godrey plaque](https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/panel_breakpoints_theme_uoe_mobile_1x/public/thumbnails/image/cam-about-people-plaques-thomson-godfrey_0.jpg?itok=bGvF8lKl)
Authority on intelligence testing, Bell Professor of Education, alumnus.
Elizabeth Wiskemann
Journalist, war-hero, first female professor.