Alexander Brunton FRSE FSA (2 October 1772 - 9 February 1854) was a Scottish minister in the Church of Scotland who rose to its highest rank, Moderator of the General Assembly in 1823. He was a noted academic, as Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages at the University of Edinburgh.
He was born on 2 October 1772 in Edinburgh the son of John Brunton a stay-maker living at the Bow Head. [1] He was educated at the High School, Edinburgh. He had no formal university training but was licensed by the Presbytery of Linlithgow to preach for the Church of Scotland in 1796. [2]
In 1797 he became minister of Bolton, East Lothian east of Edinburgh. In 1803 he was translated to New Greyfriars back in Edinburgh. In 1809 he moved to the Tron Kirk on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh in replacement of Rev Andrew Hunter of Barjarg. [3]
In 1813 he was made Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages at the University of Edinburgh serving in this role until 1847. The University appointed him University Librarian in 1822 and he served in this role until death. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD) by the University in December 1814. [4]
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1814. His proposers were George Dunbar, Macvey Napier, Rev David Ritchie and Alexander Christison. [5]
In 1814 he is noted as sitting on the Committee of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, alongside Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey and Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn. [6]
He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1821. [7] He was elected Moderator of the General Assembly in 1823. He was convenor of the Indian Mission Committee from that year. He retired in 1847 due to ill health. [8] In his final years in Edinburgh (his wife being dead) he had lived in rooms at Old College. [9]
He died in Coupar Angus on 9 February 1854. He is buried with Mary in the Canongate Kirkyard in edinburgh. The grave lies midway along the western boundary wall. His position at the Tron was filled by Rev Maxwell Nicholson.
In December 1798 he was married to the eminent author Mary Balfour. [10]
In 1818 his wife Mary died during childbirth. The child was still-born. At this time they lived at 35 Albany Street in Edinburgh's New Town. [11]
Brunton was sketched shaking hands with the Rev John Hunter by John Kay. [12]
His portrait by John Watson Gordon is held in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Alexander Brunton features as a character in Sara Sheridan's novel, The Fair Botanists'. [13]
The Tron Kirk is a former principal parish church in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a well-known landmark on the Royal Mile. It was built in the 17th century and closed as a church in 1952. Having stood empty for over fifty years, it was used as a tourist information centre for several years in the mid 2000's and, more recently, was the site of the Edinburgh World Heritage Exhibition and John Kay’s book and gift shop.
John Lee FRSE was a Scottish academic and polymath, the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1840 to 1859. He was also a Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1844.
William Wishart (secundus) (1691/2-1753) was a Scottish clergyman who served as the Principal of Edinburgh University from 1736 to 1753. He served as Moderator of the General Assembly for the Church of Scotland in 1745.
Andrew Hunter of Barjarg FRSE (1743–1809) was a Minister in Edinburgh. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1792, was Professor of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh and a Founding Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
David Dickson was a Scottish Presbyterian minister and writer.
James Grant FRSE DD DCL was a Scottish minister. Combining his religious skills with business skills he was also Director of Scottish Widows for 50 years and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1854. During his period as Moderator he was styled as Right Rev James Grant and thereafter as Very Rev James Grant.
Henry Grieve FRSE was a Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1783. He was a co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in the same year. He was also one of the Deans in the Chapel Royal in Edinburgh and Chaplain in Ordinary to King George IV.
William Muir FRSE (1787–1869) was a Scottish minister of the Church of Scotland. He served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1838.
David Ritchie FRSE (1763–1844) was a Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for the year 1814/15.
William Ritchie FRSE was a Scottish minister who rose to be Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1801.
William Crichton (1630–1708) was a Scottish minister of the Church of Scotland who twice served as Moderator of the General Assembly, the highest position in the Scottish Church.
Gilbert Hamilton (1715–1772) was a Scottish minister of the Church of Scotland who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1768, the highest position in the Scottish Church.
George Hamilton of Cairns (1635–1712) was a Church of Scotland minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1699.
John Campbell (1758–1828) was a Church of Scotland minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1818.
James Oswald (1703–1793) was a Church of Scotland minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1765.
Robert Walker (1716–1783) was a Church of Scotland minister and historian who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1771. His views were strongly Calvinistic.
James Alston (1679–1733) was a Church of Scotland minister who served twice as Moderator of the General Assembly in both 1725 and 1729. He was Chaplain in Ordinary to the King.
James Ramsay (1672–1749) was a Church of Scotland minister who served twice as Moderator of the General Assembly in both 1738 and 1741. He was Dean of the Chapel Royal from 1716 to 1726. At the time of his death in 1749 he was the acknowledged Father of the Church.
Alexander Ranken (1755–1827) was an 18th/19th century Church of Scotland minister and historian, who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1811.
James Paull 1782–1858) was a minister of the Church of Scotland who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1846, the highest position in the Scottish church. From 1852 he was also Chaplain in Ordinary to Queen Victoria in Scotland.
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