Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lennie, William
LENNIE, WILLIAM (1779–1852), grammarian, was born in 1779. He established himself as a teacher of English at Edinburgh in 1802, and died there on 20 July 1852. To a school at Craigend, Perthshire, he left an endowment of 10l. a year. To the town council of Edinburgh he bequeathed the lands of Auchenresch, Dumfriesshire, for founding in Edinburgh University four bursaries of 12l. each, to be called the ‘Lennie Bursaries.’ They are to be given for ‘literary education’ only, and the bursars are enjoined to repay the amounts received by them as soon as they are able; those who do so to have the nomination of their successors. The residue of the rents was to be equally divided between Trinity Hospital and James Gillespie's Hospital, Edinburgh, and after the lapse of certain annuities a further sum of 200l. a year was to be added to the fund.
Lennie's ‘Principles of English Grammar,’ to which he added a ‘Key,’ published in 1816, is still extensively used. He was also author of the ‘Child's Ladder.’
[Gent. Mag. 1852 pt. ii. p. 319; Brit. Mus. Cat.]