Elphinstone, William

Elphinstone, William ĕlˈfĭnstən, –stōnˌ [key], 1431–1514, Scottish prelate, founder of the Univ. of Aberdeen. He was trained in the law and was employed on many political missions before becoming bishop of Aberdeen in 1483. For his loyalty in the struggle with the nobles, James III made him lord high chancellor in 1488. In 1494 he procured a papal bull founding King's College (part of the present-day Univ. of Aberdeen). Bishop Elphinstone introduced the printing press into Scotland.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: British and Irish History: Biographies