Robert Halliday Gunning, a Victorian-era Edinburgh-trained doctor who made his fortune in Brazil’s goldmines, has long been celebrated for his philanthropic contributions to the University of Edinburgh. From the 1880s, Gunning funded academic posts, lectures, and prizes — legacies that still bear his name and are now worth £5.3 million. Yet, behind these gifts lies a more complex history. Gunning, who was allegedly involved in Brazil’s slavery-based mining industry, denied owning enslaved people, but a newly uncovered letter reveals he may have donated money to ease a guilty conscience, describing it as an act to “relieve my conscience” and something he felt “no sacrifice but an honour to do”.
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New research commissioned by the University of Edinburgh has revealed the wider institutional ties to the transatlantic slave trade and colonial wealth. The study, conducted by research fellow Dr Simon Buck, found that from the late 1700s to the late 1800s, the university actively sought donations from individuals enriched by slavery and empire — including doctors on slave ships, colonial merchants, and plantation owners. In historical terms, the university raised at least £250,000 from slavery-related sources, which equates to around £30 million today when adjusted for inflation — or up to £845 million based on UK economic growth models.
The investigation also uncovered that between 1873 and 1885, approximately 20% of the funds raised for the construction of Edinburgh’s medical school came from donors linked to slavery and colonialism. This includes £22,600 from slavery-related sources and £3,360 from empire-derived wealth. Furthermore, 27 named endowments linked to colonial profiteering helped fund scholarships, bursaries, and even professorships in agriculture, engineering, and music. Ten of these endowments remain active today, totalling at least £9.4 million — not including the funds already distributed over generations. The report acknowledges these figures are likely conservative estimates.
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Beyond direct donations, the report also highlights how Edinburgh’s original owners, the city council, benefited from taxing slave-linked goods arriving at Leith. Several historic buildings, such as St Cecilia’s Hall and the former Royal Infirmary sites, were supported by slavery-enriched donors. Edinburgh’s financial managers reinvested much of this wealth — acquired through exploitation — into Highland estates, war bonds, and colonial ventures between 1896 and 1946. While the profit from these investments is yet to be calculated, the impact of this dark legacy remains etched into the university’s foundations.
