ABERDEEN, Scotland, the chief city and seaport in N. Scotland, fourth largest in all Scotland; lies in Aberdeenshire, of which it is the county town, between the mouths of the Dee and Don rivers, miles northeast of Edinburgh by the N. British Railway, also on the Caledonian N. Scotland Railway. William the Lion gave it a charter in 1179; and its priv ileges were subsequently extended by Robert Bruce. The English burned it in 1336, but it was soon rebuilt ; within the same parliamentary boundary is a small town a mile north near the Don mouth, formerly called Old Aberdeen, the seat of St. Marchar's Cathedral (1357-1527), now represented by the granite nave, which, as restored since 1869, is used as a parish church. King's College and University, founded by Bishop Elphinstone in Old Aberdeen in 1494, and Marischal College and University founded by the Earl Marischal in New Aberdeen in 1593, were in 1858 united into one institution, The University of Aberdeen (q.v.). With Glasgow University it sends one member to Parliament. Marischal College was rebuilt in 1841 and additions were made in 1895 and 1906. Kings College is a stately fabric, its chapel, dating from 1500, is adorned with exquisite wood-carvings. The university is richly en dowed by the State and private bequests and is a beneficiary of the Carnegie Trust Fund. In the 17th century Aberdeen had become an important place, but it suffered much from both parties in the civil wars. It has a flourishing trade and thriving manufactures; and having been largely rebuilt of granite and extended since the formation of Union street in 1800, the *Granite City' now offers a handsome and regular aspect. Among the chief public edifices are the Municipal and County buildings, the post-office, Market Hall, Trades Hall, the Royal Infirmary, the lunatic asylum, the Gram mar school, the art gallery and art school, the music hall, public library, College of Agricul ture and Gordon's College. The last has been
much extended as a technical school, the foundationers being no longer resident; while the infirmary was reconstructed and modern ized to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee (1887). Of more than 60 places of worship those of most interest are built on the site of the ancient church of St. Nicholas, connected by a granite tower where a fine carillon of 37 bells was placed in 1887, and a Roman Catholic Cathedral built in 1859, with a spire 200 feet high. One may also notice the Market-cross (1686), the Wallace, Gordon Pasha, and three other statues, the Duthie public park of 47 acres, Victoria Park, Union Terrace, and the four bridges spanning the River Dee, one of which is said to date from 1320. It has a fine harbor and docks, good steamship and railway facilities and does a large import and export trade, being the leading port for the White Sea and Baltic trades. The chief exports are woolens, linens, cotton yarns, paper, combs, granite (hewn and polished), cattle, grain, preserved provisions and fish. Aberdeen is one of the most important fish-trawling centres and has the largest granite polishing works in the kingdom, the art of granite polishing having been revived here in 1818 by Alexander McDonald. There are also several large paper works nearby. Shipbuilding was formerly a prosperous industry, the Aberdeen clipper-bow ships being celebrated as fast sailers, but now is greatly contracted. The city sends two mem bers to Parliament and is under the jurisdiction of a council with lord provost, bailies, treasurer and dean of guild. Pop. (1901) 153,503; (1911) 163,084.