ROYAL COMMISSIONERS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
1638, Marquis of Hamilton
1639, John Earl of Traquair
1640, .....................
1641, John Earl of Wemyess
1642, Charles Earl of Dunfermline
1643, Sir John Hope of Craighall
1690, John Lord Carmichael
1692, .....Earl of Lothian
1694, John Lord Carmichael
1695, John Lord Carmichael
1696, John Lord Carmichael
1697, John Lord Carmichael
1698, John Lord Carmichael
1699, John Lord Carmichael
1700, James Viscount Seafield
1701, William Earl of Annandale
1702, Patrick Earl of Marchmount
1703, James earl of Seafield
1704, William Lord Ross
1705, William Marquis of Annandale
1706, David Earl of Glasgow
1707, David Earl of Glasgow
1708, David Earl of Glasgow
1709, David Earl of Glasgow
1710, David Earl of Glasgow
1711, William Marquis of Annandale
1712, John Duke of Athol
1713, John Duke of Athol
1714, John Duke of Athol
1715, John Earl of Rothes
1716, John Earl of Rothes
1717, John Earl of Rothes
1718, John Earl of Rothes
1719, John Earl of Rothes
1720, John Earl of Rothes
1721, John Earl of Rothes
1722, Hugh Earl of London
1723, Charles Earl of Hopetoun
1724, James Earl of Findlater and Seafield
1725, Hugh Earl of Loudoun
1726, Hugh Earl of Loudoun
1727, James Earl of Findlater and Seafield
1728, Hugh Earl of Loudoun
1729, David Earl of Buchan
1730, Hugh Earl of Loudoun
1731, Hugh Earl of Loudoun
1732, William Marquis of Lothian
1733, William Marquis of Lothian
1734, William Marquis of Lothian
1735, William Marquis of Lothian
1736, William Marquis of Lothian
1737, William Marquis of Lothian
1738, William Marquis of Lothian
1739, John Earl of Hyndford
1740, John Earl of Hyndford
1741, Alexander Earl of Leven
1742, Alexander Earl of Leven
1743, Alexander Earl of Leven
1744, Alexander Earl of Leven
1745, Alexander Earl of Leven
1746, Alexander Earl of Leven
1747, Alexander Earl of Leven
1748, Alexander Earl of Leven
1749, Alexander Earl of Leven
1750, Alexander Earl of Leven
1751, Alexander Earl of Leven
1752, Alexander Earl of Leven
1753, Alexander Earl of Leven
1754, John Earl of Hopetoun
1755, Charles Lord Cathcart
1756, Charles Lord Cathcart
1757, Charles Lord Cathcart
1758, Charles Lord Cathcart
1759, Charles Lord Cathcart
1760, Charles Lord Cathcart
1761, Charles Lord Cathcart
1762, Charles Lord Cathcart
1763, Charles Lord Cathcart
1764, John Earl of Glasgow
1765, John Earl of Glasgow
1766, John Earl of Glasgow
1767, John Earl of Glasgow
1768, John Earl of Glasgow
1769, John Earl of Glasgow
1770, John Earl of Glasgow
1771, John Earl of Glasgow
1772, John Earl of Glasgow
1773, Charles Lord Cathcart
1774, Charles Lord Cathcart
1775, Charles Lord Cathcart
1776, Charles Lord Cathcart
1777, George Earl of Dalhousie
1778, George Earl of Dalhousie
1779, George Earl of Dalhousie
1780, George Earl of Dalhousie
1781, George Earl of Dalhousie
1782, George Earl of Dalhousie
1783, David Earl of Leven
1784, David Earl of Leven
1785, David Earl of Leven
1786, David Earl of Leven
1787, David Earl of Leven
1788, David Earl of Leven
1789, David Earl of Leven
1790, David Earl of Leven
1791, David Earl of Leven
1792, David Earl of Leven
1793, David Earl of Leven
1794, David Earl of Leven
1795, David Earl of Leven
1796, David Earl of Leven and Melville
1797, David Earl of Leven and Melville
1798, David Earl of Leven and Melville
1799, David Earl of Leven and Melville
1800, David Earl of Leven and Melville
1801, David Earl of Leven and Melville
1802, Francis Lord Napier
1803, Francis Lord Napier
1804, Francis Lord Napier
1805, Francis Lord Napier
1806, Francis Lord Napier
1807, Francis Lord Napier
1808, Francis Lord Napier
1809, Francis Lord Napier
1810, Francis Lord Napier
1811, Francis Lord Napier
1812, Francis Lord Napier
1813, Francis Lord Napier
1814, Francis Lord Napier
1815, Francis Lord Napier
1816, Francis Lord Napier
1817, William Earl of Errol
1818, William Earl of Errol
1819, George Earl of Morton
1820, George Earl of Morton
1821, George Earl of Morton
1822, George Earl of Morton
1823, George Earl of Morton
1824, George Earl of Morton
1825, James Ochonear Lord Forbes
1826, James Ochonear Lord Forbes
1827, James Ochonear Lord Forbes
1828, James Ochonear Lord Forbes
1829, James Ochonear Lord Forbes
1830, James Ochonear Lord Forbes
1831, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1832, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1833, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1834, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1835, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1836, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1837, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1838, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1839, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1840, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1841, Robert Montgomery Lord Belhaven
1842, John Marquis of Bute
Moderators of the General Assembly.
1638, Mr Alex. Henderson, minister of Leuchars
1639, Mr David Dickson, minister of Irvine
1640, Mr Andrew Ramsay, minister at Edinburgh
1641, Mr Andrew Ramsay, minister at Edinburgh
1642, Mr Robert Douglas, minister at Edinburgh
1643, Mr Alex. Henderson, minister at Edinburgh,
formerly at Leuchars
1644, Mr James Bonar, Minister at Maybole
1645, Mr Robert Douglas, minister at Edinburgh
1646, Mr Robert Blair, minister at St Andrews
1647, Mr Robert Douglas, minister at Edinburgh
1648, Mr George Gillespie, minister at Edinburgh
1649, Mr Robert Douglas, minister at Edinburgh
1690, Mr Hugh Kennedy, minister at Edinburgh
1692, ......................................
1694, Mr John Law, minister at Edinburgh
1695, Mr Patrick Simpson, minister at Renfrew
1696, Mr Patrick Simpson, minister at Renfrew
1697, Mr William Crichton, minister at Edinburgh
1698, Mr George Meldrum, minister at Edinburgh
1699, Mr George Hamilton, minister at Edinburgh
1700, Mr David Blair, minister at Edinburgh
1701, Mr Thomas Wilkie, one of the ministers of
Canongate, Edinburgh
1702, Mr David Williamson, one of the ministers
of West Kirk, Edinburgh
1703, Mr George Meldrum, Professor of Divinity,
Edinburgh
1704, Mr Thomas Wilkie, Canongate, Edinburgh
1705, Mr William Carstairs, Principal of the College of Edinburgh
1706, Mr William Wishart, one of the ministers of
South Leith
1707, Mr John Stirling, Principal of the College of
Glasgow
1708, Mr William Carstairs, Principal of the Col
1709, Mr John Currie, Haddington
1710, Mr William Mitchel, Edinburgh
1711, Mr William Carstairs, Principal of the College of Edinburgh
1712, Mr William Hamilton
1713, Mr William Wishart, South Leith
1714, Mr William Mitchel, Edinburgh
1715, Mr William Carstairs, Principal of the College of Edinburgh
1716, Mr William Hamilton, Professor of Divinity,
Edinburgh
1717, Mr William Mitchel, Edinburgh
1718, Mr William Wishart, Principal of Edinburgh
College
1719, Mr James Grierson, Edinburgh
1720, Mr William Hamilton, Professor of Divinity,
Edinburgh
1721, Mr Thomas Black, Perth
1722, Mr William Mitchell, Edinburgh
1723, Mr James Smith, Cramond
1724, Mr William Wishart, Principal of Edinburgh
College
1725, Mr James Alston, Dirleton
1726, Mr William Mitchell, Edinburgh
1727, Mr William Hamilton, Professor of Divinity,
Edinburgh
1728, Mr William Wishart, Principal of Edinburgh
College
1729, Mr James Alston, Dirleton
1730, Mr William Hamilton, Professor of Divinity,
Edinburgh
1731, Mr James Smith, Edinburgh
1732, Mr Neil Campbell, Principal of Glasgow Col-lege
1733, Mr John Gowdie, Edinburgh
1734, Mr James Gordon, Alford
1735, Mr Alexander Anderson, St Andrews
1736, Mr Lauchian M'Intosh, Errol
1737, Mr Neil Campbell, Principal of Glasgow
College
1738, Mr James Ramsay, Kelso
1739, Mr James Bannatyne, Edinburgh
1740, Mr George Logan, Edinburgh
1741, Mr James Ramsay, Kelso
1742, Mr Thomas Tullidelph, Principal of St Leonard's College, St Andrews
1743, Mr Robert Wallace, Edinburgh
1744, Mr John Adams, Dalrymple
1745, Dr William Wisbart, Principal of Edinburgh
College
1746, Mr John Lumsden, Profesor of Divinity,
King's College, Aberdeen
1747, Mr Robert Kinloch, Edinburgh
1748, Mr George Wishart, Edinburgh
1749, Mr Patrick Cuming, Edinburgh
1750, Mr Robert Paton, Renfrew
1751, Mr John Lumsden, Professor of Divinity,
King's College, Aberdeen
1752, Dr Patrick Cuming, Edinburgh
1753, Mr Alexander Webster
1754, Mr Robert Hamilton, Professor of Divinity
at Edinburgh
1755, Mr George Reid, St Evox
1756, Dr Patrick Cumming, Professor of Church
History, Edinburgh
1757, Mr William Leechman, Professor of Divinity,
Glasgow
1758, Mr Thomas Turnbull, Borthwick
1759, Dr George Kay, Edinburgh
1760, Dr Robert Hamilton, Professor of Divinity,
Edinburgh
1761, Dr John Hyndman, West Church, Edin-burgh
1762, Dr Robert Traill, Professor of Divinity,
Glasgow
1763, Dr William Robertson, Principal of the University, Edinburgh
1764, Dr Alexander Gerard, Professor of Divinity,
Marischal College, Aberdeen
1765, Mr James Oswald, Methven
1766, Mr John Hamilton, Glasgow
1767, Mr James Morrison, Principal of the New
College, St Andrews
1768, Dr Gilbert Hamilton, Cramond
1769, Dr James M'Knight, Maybole
1770, Dr Alexander Carlyle, Inveresk
1771, Mr Robert Walker, Edinburgh
1772, Mr Adam Fergusson, Moulin
1773, Dr John Drysdale, Edinburgh
1774, Dr Robert Henry, Edinburgh
1775, Dr David Shaw, Coylton
1776, Dr John Ker, Forfar
1777, Mr James Brown, Edinburgh
1778, Dr Patrick Grant, Moray
1779, Dr James Gillespie, St Andrews
1780, Dr Hary Spens, Wemyss
1781, Dr William Dalrymple, Ayr
1782, Dr Jos M'Cormick, Prestonpans
1783, Dr Henry Grieve, Dalkeith
1784, Dr John Drysdale, Edinburgh. (Dr John
M'Farlane, Edinburgh, was also pro-posed.)
1785, Sir H. Moncreiff Wellwood, Bart., West
Church, Edinburgh
1786, Mr Duncan Shaw, Aberdeen
1787, Mr Robert Liston, Aberdour
1788, Dr Archibald Davidson, Principal of the
University, Glasgow
1789, Dr George Hill, Professor of Divinity, St
Andrews
1790, Dr John Walker, Colinton, Professor of Natural History, Edinburgh
1791, Dr Robert Small, Dundee
1792, Dr Andrew Hunter, Professor of Divinity,
Edinburgh
1793, Dr Thomas Hardy, Professor of Church
History, Edinburgh
1794, Dr Robert Arnot, Professor of Divinity, St
Andrews
1795, Dr James Meek, Cambuslang
1796, Dr William Greenfield, Edinburgh, and Professor of Rhetoric there
1797, Dr John Adamson, St Andrews
1798, Dr William Taylor, Glasgow
1799, Dr William Moodie, Edinburgh
1800, Dr George H. Baird, Principal of the College, Edinburgh
1801, Dr William Ritchie, Kilwinning
1802, Dr James Finlayson, Edinburgh
1803, Dr Gilbert Gerard, Professor of Divinity,
Aberdeen
1804, Dr John Inglis, Edinburgh
1805, Dr George Hamilton, Gladsmuir
1806, Dr William Taylor, jun., Glasgow
1807, Dr James Sheriffs, Aberdeen
1808, Dr Andrew Grant, Kilmarnock
1809, Dr Francis Nicoll, Mains and Strathmartin
1810, Dr Hugh Meiklejohn, Abercorn
1811, Dr Alexander Ranken, Glasgow
1812, Dr William Macmorine, Carlaverock
1813, Dr Andrew Brown, Edinburgh
1814, Dr David Ritchie, Edinburgh
1815, Dr Lewis Gordon, Drainie
1816, Dr John Cook, Professor of Divinity, St An-drews
1817, Dr Gavin Gibb, Glasgow
1818, Dr John Campbell, Edinburgh
1819, Dr Duncan M'Farlane, Drymen
1820, Dr Thomas Macknight, Edinburgh
1821, Dr Duncan Mearns, Professor of Divinity,
King's College, Aberdeen. (Dr George
Cook of Laurencekirk was also put in
nomination, but Dr Mearns was elected by
a majority of 23.)
1822, Dr David Lamont, Kirkpatrick-Durham. (Dr
Cook was again nominated, but Dr Lamont
was elected by a considerable majority.)
1823, Dr Alexander Brunton, Professor of Oriental Languages, Edinburgh
1824, Dr Andrew Dunean, Ratho
1825, Dr George Cook, Laurencekirk
1826, Dr Thomas Taylor, Tibbermore
1827, Dr Robert Haldane, Principal of St Mary's
College, St Andrews
1828, Dr Stevenson M'Gill, Professor of Divinity,
Glasgow,
1829, Dr Patrick Forbes, Old Machar, and Professor of Humanity, King's College, Aber-deen
1830, Dr William Singer, Kirkpatrick-Juxta
1831, Dr James Wallace, Whitekirk
1832, Dr Thomas Chalmers, Professor of Divinity,
Edinburgh
1833, Dr John Stirling, Craigie
1834, Dr Patrick M'Farlan, Greenock
1835, Dr William Aird Thomson, Perth
1836, Dr Norman M'Leod, Glasgow
1837, Dr Mathew Gardiner, Bothwell. (Dr John
Lee, Edinburgh, was also put in nomination, but Dr Gardiner was elected by a
majority of 262 to 59.)
1838, Dr William Muir, Edinburgh
1839, Dr Henry Duncan, Ruthwell
1840, Dr Angus Makellar, Pencaitland. (He was
opposed by Dr Alexander Hill, Dailly,
but elected by a majority of 197 to 147.)
1841, Dr Robert Gordon, Edinburgh
1842, Dr David Welsh, Professor of Church History, Edinburgh
Clerks to the General Assembly, &c.—Procurators
and Agents for the Church
|
| 1638. | Mr (afterwards Sir) Archibald Johnston was chosen Clerk and Procurator to the Church, and Mr
Robert Dalgleish appointed Agent. |
| 1642. | Mr Johnston was allowed to adjoin any to himself, or depute any that he might think fit in the
offices of Clerk and Procurator. |
| 1643. | This allowance was confirmed. |
| 1647. | The Acts of these years appear to have been extracted by Mr A Ker. |
| 1648. |
| 1690. | Mr John Spalding was chosen Clerk, and Mr John Blair Agent. |
| 1694. | Mr Robert Park, Advocate, was Clerk to the Assembly. |
| 1695. | In consequence of Mr Park's decease, Mr John Bannatyne, Minister of Lanark, was appointed
to act as Clerk to this Assembly, and Mr Nicol Spence to assist him. |
| 1696. |
| 1697. | Mr John Bannatyne was continued Clerk, pro tempore. |
| 1698. | Mr John Bannatyne was chosen Clerk to this Assembly |
| 1699. | Mr John Bannatyne was chosen Clerk to this Assembly. |
| 1700. | Mr John Bannatyne was chosen Clerk to this Assembly. |
| 1701. | Mr David Dundas, Advocate, was chosen Clerk; and Mr Nicol Spence continued in the office of
Sub-Clerk to the Assembly and Commission thereof. |
| 1703. | Mr John Dundas of Philipstoun, Advocate, was chosen Clerk to the Assembly and Commission,
in room of Mr David Dundas, deceased. |
| 1706. | The said Mr John Dundas appointed Advocate in Ordinary and Procurator for the Church. |
| 1708. | Mr Nicol Spence conjoined with Mr John Blair as Agent. |
| 1711. | Mr Nicol Spence appears to have been sole Agent. |
| 1731. | Mr William Grant, Advocate, was elected Principal Clerk and Procurator, in room of Mr John
Dundas, deceased |
| 1738. | Mr Robert M' Intosh was conjoined with Mr Nicol Spence in the offices of Agent and Sub-Clerk. |
| 1743. | Mr Nicol Spence having died, Mr John Baillie, W.S., was elected conjunct with Mr Robert
M'Intosh, the former taking the Agent's, and the latter the Sub-Clerk's department. |
| 1746. | In consequence of the appointment of Mr William Grant to the office of his Majesty's Advocate,
the Assembly made choice of Mr George Wishart, one of the Ministers of Edinburgh, to be Principal Clerk, and Mr David Dalrymple, Advocate, to be Procurator for the Church. |
| 1753. | Mr M'Intosh having died, Mr James Edmonstone, Writer in Edinburgh, was conjoined with Mr
Baillie; Mr Baillie to act as Agent, and Mr Edmonstone to take the office of Sub-Clerk to the
Assembly, and Clerk to the Committee for Managing the Royal Bounty. |
| 1778. | Dr John Drysdale, Edinburgh, was conjoined with Dr George Wishart in the office of Principal
Clerk. Dr Wishart died previous to the Assembly of 1783. |
| 1778. | Mr William Robertson, Advocate, was appointed Procurator for the Church, in room of Mr David
Dalrymple, (Lord Westhall), promoted to the Bench. |
| 1781. | In consequence of the death of Mr Edmonstone, who for many years had held the offices both of
Agent and Sub-Clerk. Dr William Gloag, one of the Ministers of Edinburgh, was appointed
Sub-Clerk of Assembly, and Clerk to the Committee for Managing the Royal Bounty; and
Mr George Cairncross, Writer in Edinburgh, was appointed Agent for the Church. |
| 1789. | The office of Principal Clerk being vacant, Professor Andrew Dalzel, Edinburgh, was elected;
Dr Alexander Carlyle, Minister of Inveresk, was also put in nomination, and on the roll being
called, the majority of the votes appeared to be in his favour; but, after a long and anxious scrutiny, the election was declared to have fallen on Professor Dalzel. |
| 1795. | Mr William Murray, Writer in Edinburgh, was elected Agent for the Church. |
| 1802. | On the death of Dr Gloag, Mr Thomas Macknight, Leith, and Mr David Ritchie, Edinburgh, were
appointed conjunct Sub-Clerks; Dr Ritchie resigned in 1808. |
| 1806. | Mr Robertson, (afterwards Lord Robertson,) having been promoted, Mr John Connell, Advocate,
was elected Procurator. He was opposed by Mr James Moncreiff, Advocate. |
| 1807. | Mr Andrew Duncan, Ratho, was appointed to the office of Principal Clerk on the death of Professor Dalzel. He was opposed by Dr Robert Dickson, South Leith. |
| 1809. | Mr John Murray, W.S., was conjoined with his father in the office of Agent for the Church; he
became sole Agent in 1825. |
| 1826. | Dr John Lee, Edinburgh, was elected Sub-Clerk, conjunct with Dr Macknight. |
| 1828. | On the death of Dr Duncan, Dr Lee was elected Principal Clerk of Assembly. At the same time,
Mr Alexander Lockhart Simpson, Minister of Kirknewton, was elected Sub-Clerk, conjunct
with Dr Macknight; he was opposed by Mr John Murray, Agent for the Church. |
| 1831. | On the death of Sir John Connell, Mr Robert Bell, Advocate, was appointed Procurator for the
Church; he was opposed by Messrs R. Whigham and George Grant, Advocates. |
| 1837. | Mr William Young, W.S., was elected Agent for the Church, in room of Mr Murray, deceased;
he was opposed by Messrs Harry Inglis and James Crawford, Jun., W.S. The votes on that
occasion stood as follows:—For Mr Young, 153; for Mr Inglis, 110; for Mr Crawford, 68. |