John Veitch Memorial Fountain

About John Veitch Memorial Fountain

This fountain commemorates the life of Professor John Veitch and is located in the town of Peebles. Made of pink granite the monument incorporates a horse drinking trough and fountain. Veitch was a philosopher and poet who was Professor of Logic at the University of St Andrews 1860-64. In 1864 he was elected to the chair of Logic and Rhetoric in Glasgow, which he held until his death in 1884. The inscription reads: “ERECTED BY FRIENDS IN PEEBLESSHIRE
AND ELSEWHERE
IN MEMORY OF JOHN VEITCH LLD
BORDER POET AND PHILOSOPHER
PROFESSOR OF LOGIC RHETORIC AND METAPHYSICS IN THE
UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS 1860-64
PROFESSOR OF LOGIC AND RHETORIC IN THE
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW 1864-89
BORN AT PEEBLES 24TH OCTOBER 1829
DIED AT PEEBLES 3RD SEPTEMBER 1894
“AMONG THE ROCKS
HE WENT AND STILL LOOKED UP TO SUN AND CLOUD
AND LISTENED TO THE WIND.”

A second inscription reads:-

“NEVER TO BLEND YOUR
PLEASURE OR YOUR PRIDE.
WITH SUFFERING OF THE
MEANEST THING THAT FEELS.”

The statue is located outside of the Tontine Hotel and across the road from this there is on-street parking.