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Image Not Available for Professor Alexander Bain LLD
Professor Alexander Bain LLD
Image Not Available for Professor Alexander Bain LLD

Professor Alexander Bain LLD

Artist (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1857 - 1893)
Date1891
Mediummarble
ClassificationsSculptures
Dimensions64.5 x 52 x 29cm
AcquisitionTransferred in 1999 from Aberdeen Central Library.
CopyrightOut of copyright
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG014333
About MeThe subject of this portrait head, Alexander Bain (1818-1903) was a Scottish philosopher and educationalist. At the age of eleven he left school to work as a weaver but in 1836 entered Marischal College, Aberdeen and whilst still a student became a contributor to the 'Westminster Review': his first article was "Electrotype and Daguerreotype," published in September 1840 and this led to his lifelong friendship with John Stuart Mill.

In 1845 Bain was appointed Professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at the University of Glasgow. Moving to London, in 1855 he published his first major work, 'The Senses and the Intellect', followed in 1859 by 'The Emotions and the Will'. In 1860 he was appointed to the new regius chair of logic and English literature at the University of Aberdeen, a post he held for twenty years.

In 1876 Bain founded the philosophical journal 'Mind' under the editorship of a former pupil, George Croom Robertson, of University College, London. To this journal Bain contributed many important articles and discussions and indeed funded it until Robertson resigned the editorship in 1891. This head dates from the same year, when Bain was aged seventy four. It may have been commissioned by Aberdeen Libraries to celebrate his achievements, not only to learning and teaching but also to the published word.