James Aitken Wylie

The grave of James Aitken Wylie, East Preston Street Burial Ground, Edinburgh

James Aitken Wylie (1808-1890) was a Scottish historian of religion and Presbyterian minister. He was a prolific writer and is most famous for writing The History of Protestantism.

Life

Wylie was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland on 9 August 1808, and his father, James Aitken, was an Auld Licht Anti-burgher minister in the Original Secession Church. Wylie was educated at Marischal College, University of Aberdeen, where he stayed for three years before studying at St. Andrews under Thomas Chalmers. He followed his father's example, entering the Original Secession Divinity Hall, Edinburgh in 1827, and was ordained in 1831.

He became sub-editor of the Edinburgh Witness in 1846. In 1852, after joining the Free Church of Scotland, Wylie edited their Free Church Record until 1860.

He published his book The Papacy: its History, Dogmas, Genius, and Prospects in 1851, winning a prize of a hundred guineas from the Evangelical Alliance. The Protestant Institute appointed him Lecturer on Popery in 1860. He continued in this role until his death in 1890, publishing in 1888 his work The Papacy is the Antichrist. He died with his History of the Scottish Nation taken forward to 1286.

Aberdeen University awarded him an honorary doctorate (LL.D.) in 1856.

Wylie's classic work, The History of Protestantism, went out of print in the 1920s, although it was briefly reprinted in Northern Ireland in a two-volume reproduction in the late 20th century. It has received praise from a number of influential figures, including Ian Paisley. The History of Protestantism was also reprinted by Hartland Publications, Rapidan, Virginia, USA in 2002 in four-volumes. ISBN 0-923309-80-2.

He died on 1 May 1890 and is buried with his wife, Euphemia Gray (1808-1845) and their children, in East Preston Street Burial Ground, Edinburgh in the eastern part of the south=east section.

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