Patrick Copland (1748-1822)

Image courtesy of Patrick A Copland, descendant of Professor Copland, from a painting in his possession by John Moir, 1817.

Patrick Copland was born in Fintray, Aberdeenshire. He received a bursary to Marischal College and studied Natural Philosophy under George Skene and Moral Philosophy with James Beattie, the professors in their respective subjects at Aberdeen University at that time.

In 1775, Copland became Professor of Philosophy at Marischal College, and Professor of Mathematics from 1779 to 1817.  A very popular lecturer, Copland introduced the use of his own inventions, where students were able to learn from practical demonstrations alongside the lectures. His teaching techniques gained the attention of the local government and he was appointed academic consultant to the city. Copland was also a consultant physicist and advised the town on fresh water supplies, sand, and gravel filtration beds and surveying. He also helped record the first measurements of the Deeside hills using barometrics and was instrumental in the introduction of chlorine bleach to Britain.

In 1780, he built the first publicly funded Astronomical Observatory with modern equipment in Castle Hill near Marischal College. An observatory was later built on top of Marischal College. Some of the instruments made for the observatory are still in the collection.

Further information on Patrick Copland available here.

Friction wheels 

A large part of Patrick Copland’s collection of inventions and demonstration equipment is held in the University collections. This includes the Head of Despair which “when the head is electro statically charged, the hair stands on end in a shocking fashion," and the Astronomical Clock made by Copland which once hung at the Astronomical Observatory.

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William Corbet’s Notes on Professor Copland’s Lectures, 1814-15 
MS 3968/2

William Corbet’s Notes on Professor Copland’s Lectures, 1814-15
MS 3968/1

The University collections contains archival materials directly related to Copland such as lecture notes, correspondence with the town council, correspondence with his contemporaries and family, essays, and manuscripts. William Knight's records of Marischal College contain extensive records relating to the acquisition of Copland's collection.

Copland believed passionately in the practical application of physics. Such a utilitarian approach can be readily discerned in many of his lecture notes which survive in the University collections. The description and illustration of a fire engine comes under the heading of ‘useful machines’.