James MacKnight

Rev Dr James MacKnight DD (1721-1800) was a Scottish minister and theological author, serving at the Old Kirk of Edinburgh (St Giles Cathedral). He is remembered for his book Harmony of the Gospels and as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1769.

Life

He was born on 17 September 1721 in Irvine in Ayrshire the son of Rev William Mackneight (sic) (d.1750), and his wife, Elizabeth Gemmill of [[Dalraith) (d.1753). The family appear to have originally been called McNaughtane or McNaughton, and derived from the Scottish Highlands via Ireland.^[1]

He received a theological bursary from the Exchequer and studied Theology at Glasgow University from 1735 and graduating in 1743 before travelling to Europe to do further studied at the University of Leyden a recognised centre for theological study. Around 1745, having been licenced to preach in Irvine, he became an assistant at the Chapel of Ease in the Gorbals in south Glasgow. A few years later he assisted the Rev Alexander Ferguson in Kilwinning Church before finally in 1753 receiving his own church, at Maybole not far from his home town of Irvine.^[2]

In 1759 Edinburgh University awarded him an honorary doctorate (DD). In 1769 he was translated from Maybole to Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. In the same year he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly. In November 1771 he was translated again, to Lady Yester's Kirk in [[Edinburgh]. In 1778 he made his final move, to the Old Kirk of Edinburgh, now known as St Giles Cathedral. During this period he befriended the Rev Robert Henry.^[3]

He died in Edinburgh on 13 January 1800. As St Giles lacks a graveyard he is buried in St Cuthberts Churchyard at the west end of Princes Street.^[4]

Publications

• Harmony of the Gospels (1756) (revised 1763)
• The Truth of the Gospel History (1763)
• The Epistle to the Thessalonians (1787)
• The Epistles of St Paul (1787)

Family

He was married to Elizabeth McCormick (1728-1813), daughter of Samuel McCormick.

They had four sons:

• Samuel MacKnight WS (1757-1807)
• James MacKnight (1759-1793)
• Thomas MacKnight (1762-1836) who was also a minister and rose to the highest level in the Church of Scotland as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1820. His son later wrote his biography.^[5]

References