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"
The Tudors relationships, historical costume, physical appearance and the timing of events. As creator Hirst said, "Showtime commissioned me to write an entertainment, a soap opera, and not history ... And we wanted people to watch it." He added that some changes were made for production considerations and some to avoid viewer confusion and that "any confusion created by the changes is outweighed by the interest the series may inspire in the period and its figures." The premiere of "The Tudors" on 1 April 2007, was the highest-rated Showtime series debut in three years. On 23 March 2008, "The New York Times"