Scottish Presbyterian reformer Andrew Melville, after studying at the universities of St. Andrews, Paris, and Poitiers and holding a professorship in Geneva, becomes the principal of Glasgow University in 1574, where he encourages the study of languages, science, and modern forms of philosophy and theology.

The Reformation had caused the University of Glasgow to decline until its revival by Melville, who has drawn up a new constitution for it that is confirmed in 1577.