David Maxwell Walker
Encyclopedia
David Maxwell Walker CBE
, QC
FBA
FRSE
is a Scottish lawyer and academic, and former Regius Professor of Law at the University of Glasgow
.
, at the time the city's publicly-funded grammar school, where he was Mackindlay Prizeman in Classics
. He then began study at the University of Glasgow, but interrupted this to join the Army
at the outbreak of war
in 1939. He began as a non-commissioned officer
in the Cameronians, was seconded to the Royal Army Service Corps
in 1941, and then served with the Indian Armed Forces
in India
in 1942, in the Middle East
from 1942 to 1943, and in Italy
from 1943 to 1946, rising to the rank of Captain.
He resumed study at Glasgow in 1945, graduating MA
in 1946 and LLB (Distinction) (Robertson Scholar) in 1948, and was called to the Bar the same year. Whilst practising at the Bar he undertook postgraduate study as Faulds Fellow in Law at the University of Glasgow from 1949–52 and wrote a PhD
at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1952.
of the University of London
, and in 1954 was appointed Professor of Jurisprudence
at the School of Law
of the University of Glasgow
. He won the Blackwell Prize of the University of Aberdeen
in 1955, and was Dean of the Faculty of Law and Financial Studies between 1956 and 1959. In 1958, he succeeded Andrew Dewar Gibb
as Regius Professor of Law at Glasgow, and was appointed Queen's Counsel
. As Regius Professor he published widely in the area of Scots Private Law, remaining in this post until 1990. He continues as Emeritus Regius Professor, and was succeeded by Professor Joe Thomson
. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
in 1980 and served as its Vice-President from 1985 to 1988. He has received honorary degrees of LLD from the Universities of Edinburgh
(1960), London
(1968) and Glasgow
(1985), and was appointed CBE
in 1986.
from 1974 to 2001. He lives in the West End of Glasgow.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
FBA
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
FRSE
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
is a Scottish lawyer and academic, and former Regius Professor of Law at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
Early life
Walker was educated at the High School of GlasgowHigh School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, it is the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar...
, at the time the city's publicly-funded grammar school, where he was Mackindlay Prizeman in Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
. He then began study at the University of Glasgow, but interrupted this to join the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
at the outbreak of war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939. He began as a non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
in the Cameronians, was seconded to the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
in 1941, and then served with the Indian Armed Forces
Indian Armed Forces
The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India. They consist of the Army, Navy and Air Force, supported by three paramilitary forces and various inter-service institutions such as the Strategic Forces Command.The President of India is...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1942, in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
from 1942 to 1943, and in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
from 1943 to 1946, rising to the rank of Captain.
He resumed study at Glasgow in 1945, graduating MA
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
in 1946 and LLB (Distinction) (Robertson Scholar) in 1948, and was called to the Bar the same year. Whilst practising at the Bar he undertook postgraduate study as Faulds Fellow in Law at the University of Glasgow from 1949–52 and wrote a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1952.
Career
From 1953 to 1954 he studied at the Institute of Advanced Legal StudiesInstitute of Advanced Legal Studies
The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies is part of the School of Advanced Study of the University of London. It was founded in 1946 as a national academic institution to promote and advance legal research, implementing a proposal of 1934 report of the Legal Education Committee chaired by Lord Atkin...
of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and in 1954 was appointed Professor of Jurisprudence
Chair of Jurisprudence, Glasgow
The Chair of Jurisprudence is a Professorship at the University of Glasgow, founded in 1952.-History:The Chair was founded in 1952 and the first holder, David Walker, appointed in 1954. Walker was himself a graduate of the School of Law and would go on to become a distinguished legal scholar, being...
at the School of Law
University of Glasgow School of Law
The School of Law at the University of Glasgow provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Law, and awards the degrees of Bachelor of Laws , Master of Laws , Master of Science , Master of Research and Doctor of Philosophy , the degree of Doctor of Laws...
of the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. He won the Blackwell Prize of the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
in 1955, and was Dean of the Faculty of Law and Financial Studies between 1956 and 1959. In 1958, he succeeded Andrew Dewar Gibb
Andrew Dewar Gibb
Andrew Dewar Gibb was a Scottish politician, barrister and professor....
as Regius Professor of Law at Glasgow, and was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. As Regius Professor he published widely in the area of Scots Private Law, remaining in this post until 1990. He continues as Emeritus Regius Professor, and was succeeded by Professor Joe Thomson
Joe Thomson
Joseph McGeachy Thomson FRSE is a Scottish lawyer and academic. He has previously served as Regius Professor of Law at the University of Glasgow and as a member of the Scottish Law Commission.-Early life:...
. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
in 1980 and served as its Vice-President from 1985 to 1988. He has received honorary degrees of LLD from the Universities of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
(1960), London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(1968) and Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
(1985), and was appointed CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1986.
Publications
- Law of Damages in Scotland, 1955
- The Scottish Legal System, 1959, 8th edn 2001
- Law of Delict in Scotland, 1966, 2nd edn 1981
- Scottish Courts and Tribunals, 1969, 5th edn 1985
- Principles of Scottish Private Law (2 vols), 1970, 4th edn (4 vols), 1988–89
- Law of Prescription and Limitation in Scotland, 1973, 6th edn 2002
- Law of Civil Remedies in Scotland, 1974
- Law of Contracts in Scotland, 1979, 3rd edn 1995
- Oxford Companion to Law, 1980
- (ed) Stair's Institutions (6th edn), 1981
- (ed) Stair Tercentenary Studies, 1981
- The Scottish Jurists, 1985
- Legal History of Scotland, 7 vols, 1988–2004
- Scottish Part of Topham and Ivamy's Company Law, 12th edn 1955, to 16th edn 1978;
Personal life
Walker married Margaret Knox in 1954. His interests include motoring, book-collecting and Scottish history. He served as Governor of the High School of GlasgowHigh School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, it is the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar...
from 1974 to 2001. He lives in the West End of Glasgow.