Robert Blair (minister)

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Robert Blair (3 May 1837 – 4 November 1907) was a Scottish minister, who followed Dr James S. Johnstone as Minister of Cambuslang in 1890.

[edit] Early life

Blair was born in Bullwood, Dunoon, the son of Duncan Blair and Margaret Campbell. He was educated at Bowmore School, Islay, then Glasgow University where he gained an M.A. in 1863.

He was licensed by the Presbytery of Kintyre on 29 November 1865 when he was assistant at Saddell. He was ordained to Tarbert, Loch Fyne on 19 September 1867.

On 6 May 1869 he moved to St Columba's Church, Glasgow, a Gaelic Church. He then went to Cambuslang on 23 May 1882. He moved to St John’s Parish Edinburgh on 20 July 1892. He was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity by Glasgow University in 1891. He was chaplain to the Glasgow Highlanders and to H.M. Prison, Edinburgh.

Blair married Flora Anne Cameron on 29 October 1889.

[edit] Contributions

Blair edited the Gaelic poems (with Memoir) of William Livingstone, the Islay Bard (Glasgow, 1882). He also translated a number of hymns into Gaelic, and wrote Gaelic articles for The Gael (Glasgow, 1873–6).

Blair was one of the translators of the Revised Version of the Bible into Gaelic.

[edit] References

• Rev Hew Scott DD Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae : the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation Presbytery of Edinburgh. (Edinburgh, 1914)