MOOR, JAMES, LL.D., an eminent Greek scholar, the son of Mr. Robert Moor, teacher of mathematics in Glasgow, and his wife, Margaret Park, was born in that city, June 22, 1712. He entered the university of his native city in November 1725, and while at college acquired much distinction for his proficiency in the ancient languages, mathematics, and geometry. On completing his academical course, he kept a school for some time at Glasgow. He was afterwards tutor in the families successively of the earls of Selkirk and Kilmarnock, and traveled with his pupils on the continent. When Dean castle, the seat of the latter nobleman, was accidentally burnt, Mr. Moor lost his valuable collection of books, as well as his manuscript speculations on philological and mathematical subjects. In November 1742 he was appointed librarian to the university of Glasgow, and in July 1746, he became professor of Greek there, on which occasion the earl of Selkirk advanced him £600, to enable him to purchase the resignation of his predecessor.

In conjunction with professor Muirhead, he superintended, at the request of the university, a splendid edition of Homer, published by the Foulises of Glasgow. He also edited their Herodotus. In 1761 he was appointed vice-rector of the university, which, in April 1763, conferred on him the degree of LL.D. Besides other works, he was the author of various Essays which purported to have been “read to a literary Society in Glasgow, at their weekly meetings within the College.” Several of these were never printed. He resigned his chair in May 1774, and died, unmarried, September 17, 1779. His library and cabinet of medals were purchased by the university, of which he was such a distinguished member.

Dr. Moor was possessed of considerable poetical powers, and among other pieces, is stated to have been the author of the popular Scots ballad of ‘The Chelsea Pensioners,’ which was published in the newspapers at the commencement of the French revolution, as the production of a young lady. – His works are:

Three Essays. Glasgow, 1759, 12mo.

On the End of Tragedy, according to Aristotle: an Essay in two parts, read to a Literary Society in Glasgow, at their weekly meetings within the college. Glasg. 1764, 8vo.

On the Praepositions of the Greek Language; an Introductory Essay, read to a Literary Society in Glasgow, at their weekly meetings within the College. Glas. 1765, 12mo.

Vindication of Virgil from the charge of a Puerility which was imputed to him by Dr. Pearce, in his Notes on Longinus. 1766.

Elementa Lingua Graeca. Glasg. 1783, 8vo. Edin. 1798, 1803, 8vo. Glasg. 1817, 8vo. This, his principal work, though incomplete in some respects, soon became a standard schoolbook.

He also contributed a few poems to ‘The Edinburgh Magazine and Review.’

MOOR, JACOB, an eminent landscape painter, a native of Edinburgh, was the author of three Essays; on the Influence of philosophy on the fine Arts; on the Composition of the Picture described in the dialogue of Cebes, and on Historical composition; which were read before a literary society held in the college of Glasgow in the years 1752, 1754, and 1755, and afterwards printed by Andrew and Robert Foulis, in 1759. He went to Rome about 1773, where he attained considerable reputation. He was employed by the Prince Borghese to conduct the alterations which were made in the gardens of his villa, near the Porta Pinciana, executed in imitation of the modern style of gardening now practiced in England, for which he was liberally remunerated. He died of a fever at Rome in 1793, leaving a respectable property to his relations.