GAIRDNER, JAMES (1828-1912), English historian, son of John Gairdner, M.D., was born in Edinburgh on March 22, 1828. Educated in his native city, he entered the Public Record Office in London in 1846, becoming assistant keeper of the public records (1859-93). He died at Pinner, Middlesex, on Nov. 4, 1912. Gairdner's valuable contributions to English history relate chiefly to the reigns of Richard III., Henry VII. and Henry VIII. For the "Rolls Series" he edited Letters and Papers illustrative of the Reigns of Richard III. and Henry VII. (1861-63), and Memo rials of Henry VII. (1858) ; and he succeeded J. S. Brewer in edit ing the Letters and Papers, foreign and domestic, of the reign of Henry VIII. (1862-191o), being responsible for the volumes is sued between and 191o. He edited the Paston Letters (1872 75, and again 1896). His other works include monographs on Richard HI. (1878, new and enlarged edition, 1898), and on Henry VII. (1889, and subsequently) ; The Houses of Lancaster and York (1874, and other editions) ; The English Church in the 16th century (1902) ; Lollardy and the Reformation in England (4 vols., 1908-13), completed by J. W. Hunt.