George Husband Baird FRSE FSAScot (13 July 1761 – 14 January 1840)[1] was a Scottish minister, educational reformer, linguist and the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1793 to 1840.

His father, James Baird, a landowner in Stirlingshire, at that time rented this farm from the Duke of Hamilton.

[3] His election to a prominent position was said to be a result of the influence of his father-in-law, Thomas Elder of Forneth, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh,[4] whose eldest daughter had married Baird some years previously.

It is reputed to have been jocularly said that Baird's chief claim to the Principalship was as "Husband" of the Lord Provost's daughter.

While on this committee he got the General assembly to agree to his project to educate the poor people in the highlands and islands of Scotland - in particular the Celts.

[6] Towards the close of his life, Baird put much effort into a scheme for the education of the poor in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.