William Wishart (primus)

William Wishart (1660–1729) was a Church of Scotland minister and college principal. He served as the Principal of Edinburgh University from 1716 to 1728.[1] He is not to be confused with William Wishart (secundus) who was principal from 1736 to 1754.

Life

Engraving of the kirk as it looked before 1785

He was born the son of Rev William Wishart (1621-1692), minister of Kinneil and his wife Christian Burne, Daughter of Richard Burne a magistrate in Linlithgow. His brothers included Admiral Sir James Wishart[2] and Sir George Wishart of Cliftonhall.

William was privately tutored then studied Divinity at Edinburgh University graduating MA in 1680.He did further studies at the University of Utrecht and returned to Scotland in 1684. He was imprisoned as a Covenanter but released the following year. Prior to ordination he preached in a meeting-house on Sherrif Brae in Leith. He was ordained in January 1688.In 1692 he received patronage to become minister of South Leith Parish Church. He was minister of South Leith for his first term as Moderator in 1706.[3]

In September 1707 he was translated to be minister of the Tron Kirk on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

He was five times Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland: 1706, 1713, 1718, 1724 and 1728.[4]

He died on 11 June 1729.[5]

Publications

Family

He was married to Janet Murray (d.1744) daughter of Major William Murray of Touchadam.[6] Their children included Rev William Wishart who succeeded him as minister of the Tron Kirk and Rev George Wishart (1703-1785), Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1748.[7]

Notes

  1. ↑ Jinkins, Michael. "Wishart, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/64381. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ↑ https://www.geni.com/people/William-Wishart-Min-of-Tron-Parish-Edinburgh/6000000019292596588
  3. ↑ http://www.wishartconnections.org/index.php/notablewisharts/william-wishart-minister/
  4. ↑ https://www.geni.com/projects/Moderators-of-the-General-Assembly-of-the-Church-of-Scotland/15939
  5. ↑ https://www.geni.com/people/William-Wishart-Min-of-Tron-Parish-Edinburgh/6000000019292596588
  6. ↑ http://www.wishartconnections.org/index.php/notablewisharts/william-wishart-minister/
  7. ↑ https://www.geni.com/people/George-Wishart-Min-of-Tron-Parish-Edinburgh/6000000019292519666
Preceded by
William Carstares		 Principals of Edinburgh University
1716–1728 		Succeeded by
William Hamilton


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