Alexander Geddes

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Alexander Geddes (September 14, 1737 – February 26, 1802) was a Scottish theologian and scholar.

He was born at Ruthven, Banffshire, of Roman Catholic parentage, and educated for the priesthood at the local seminary of Scalan, and at Paris; he became a priest in his native county.

His translation of the Satires of Horace made him known as a scholar, but his liberalism led to his suspension. He then went to London, where he became known to Baron Petre, who enabled him to proceed with a new translation of the Bible for English Roman Catholics, which he carried on as far as the Book of Second Chronicles and the Prayer of Manasseh which was published in 2 volumes (1792-1797). A translation of Psalms was published in 1807.

This was followed by Critical Remarks on the Hebrew Scriptures, in which he largely anticipated the German school of Higher Criticism (cf. Reginald C. Fuller, Alexander Geddes: A Pioneer of Biblical Criticism, 1737-1802, Toronto 1984, ISBN 0-907459-26-9). The result of this publication was Geddes's suspension from all ecclesiastical functions.

Geddes was also a poet, and wrote Linton: a Tweedside Pastoral, Carmen Seculare pro Gallica Gente (1790), in praise of the French Revolution.

He died without recanting, but received absolution at the hands of a French priest, though public mass for his soul was forbidden by the ecclesiastical powers.

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  • The Holy Bible, or the Books accounted sacred by Jews and Christians, otherwise called the books of the Old and New Covenant; faithfully translated from corrected texts of the originals. With various readings, explanatory notes, and critical remarks. By Alexander Geddes. (J. Davis, London. 1797).

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