Professor of Scottish History and Literature University of Oxford. In 1929, Rait was appointed Principal of the University. He remained in post as professor for a year, publishing a "History of the Union Bank of Scotland" in 1930, but resigned later that year, succeeded by John Duncan Mackie, previously Professor of Modern History at Bedford College (predecessor institution of Royal Holloway), who had initiated the teaching of Scottish History at the University of St Andrews on being appointed a lecturer there at only twenty-two years old. His publications whilst in the chair included "Andrew Lang and the House of Stuart" (1935) and "The Earlier Tudors 1485-1558"
Royal Naval House the 1907 wing was built by the Government Architect's office. "The Evening News" of May 1912 reported that Royal Naval House had lodged 67,408 men in the last year, prior to the erection of the 1907 wing. Another 12,000 men used the House annually since the new section opened, averaging 216 men a night. At its busiest during World War II (1939-1945) Royal Naval House was accommodating almost 1500 men a night, many in "shakedowns" mattresses and bunks placed wherever there was room. In 1946 alone it lodged 307,000 sailors. Royal Naval House was used by naval personnel and in