George Muirhead (1715–1773) was a Scottish linguist.
Life
Muirhead was born at Dunipace. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh (M.A. 1742), he was ordained as a Minister of the Kirk in 1746. He was professor of oriental languages at the University of Glasgow (1753-4), until his appointment as Chair of Humanity in 1754. Muirhead was elected Clerk of Senate in 1769.
Muirhead died on 31 August 1773. He was "an enthusiastic and accomplished classical scholar", and with James Moor, professor of Greek, superintended the noble edition of Homer in 4 vols., printed by Robert and Andrew Foulis of Glasgow (the Iliad in 1756, the Odyssey, with the Hymns and Fragments, in 1758).
Legacy
The Muirhead Prizes are awarded in his memory.
References
1715 births
1773 deaths
18th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland
People from Falkirk (council area) Scottish linguists Alumni of the University of Glasgow Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Scottish editors Academics of the University of Glasgow People of the Scottish Enlightenment