William Paul | |
|---|---|
 William Paul by John Kay | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 June 1754 |
| Died | 27 October 1802 |
| Spouse | Susan Moncreiff (m. 1783) |
William Paul (10 June 1754 – 27 October 1802) was a minister of the Church of Scotland who was patriarch to a number of eminent Scottish ministers. He was Chaplain in Ordinary to King George III.
He was born in Glasgow on 10 June 1754 the son of Robert Paul and his wife Agnes Anderson. He studied at Glasgow University first getting a degree in literature and philosophy then and gaining a masters degree (MA) in 1773 which looked at more theological issues. He then gained a position as private tutor to the family of David Leslie, 6th Earl of Leven, who lived in Gayfield House just east of Edinburgh's New Town and also had estates in Fife. During this period he also studied at Divinity Hall in Edinburgh. Through this connection (with the Earl as his patron) he was licensed to preach as a Church of Scotland minister by the Presbytery of Cupar in September 1777. [1] From 1777 until 1779 he served as an assistant at St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh. [2]
He was ordained in September 1779 in Newbattle Parish Church near Dalkeith. With King George III himself as patron he was presented to St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh and in March 1786 moved to a new role as collegiate minister there, with Sir Henry Moncreiff-Wellwood as first charge minister. In 1793 he was made Chaplain in Ordinary to the King. [1]
He died at the West Kirk Manse in Edinburgh on 27 October 1802. [3] He is buried in the graveyard of St Cuthbert's. Several thousand attended his funeral, which was announced by handbill. [4] The grave lies on the raised ground south-west of the church and was remodelled by his grandson James Balfour Paul around 1870 (replacing the original gravestone).[ citation needed ]
His position at St Cuthbert's was filled by David Dickson.
In April 1783 he married Susan Moncreiff (d.1828) daughter of Sir William Moncreiff and sister of Rev Henry Moncreiff-Wellwood is co-minister in St Cuthbert's. Their children included: [5]
Through the Balfours he was also related by his son's marriage to both the Balfours of Pilrig and the Stevenson engineer family including being great uncle to Robert Louis Stevenson.
He is one of the many caricatures included in John Kay's Portraits. Kay states it was drawn from memory, after Paul's death. [6]
John Jamieson DD was a Scottish minister of religion, lexicographer, philologist and antiquary. His most important work is the Dictionary of the Scottish Language.
Sir James Balfour Paul was the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the officer responsible for heraldry in Scotland, from 1890 until the end of 1926.
John Erskine (1721–1803), the Scottish theologian, was born near Dunfermline at Carnock on 2 June 1721. His father was the great Scottish jurist John Erskine of Carnock and his grandfather was Colonel John Erskine of Cardross who had been in William of Orange's army when it invaded England in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
Reverend Dr 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.
The Parish Church of St Cuthbert is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in central Edinburgh. Probably founded in the 7th century, the church once covered an extensive parish around the burgh of Edinburgh. The church's current building was designed by Hippolyte Blanc and completed in 1894.
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James Balfour of Pilrig JP was a Scottish advocate and philosopher.
David Dickson was a Scottish Presbyterian minister and writer.
Sir Henry Wellwood-Moncreiff, 10th Baronet, originally Henry Moncrieff was a Scottish minister, considered one of the most influential figures in the Free Church of Scotland in his time. Henry Wellwood Moncreiff, tenth baronet, born in 1809, was ordained minister of the parish of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, in 1836, and at the disruption, in 1843, he joined the Free Church. He was afterwards translated to St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh. He married in 1838, Alexina-Mary, daughter of Edinburgh surgeon George Bell. He is one of the two principal clerks of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, Patrick Clason, being the other; and on the death, in 1861, of James Robertson, professor of divinity and church history in the university of Edinburgh, he was appointed his successor as secretary to her majesty's sole and only master printers in Scotland.
Sir James Wellwood Moncreiff, 9th Baronet, with the judicial title Lord Moncreiff (1776–1851) was a Scottish lawyer and judge.
Henry Moncreiff-Wellwood 8th Baronet of Tullibole FRSE was both a baronet in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and minister of the Church of Scotland who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1785. At age only 35 he was one of the youngest-ever moderators. He served as Chaplain to King George III in Scotland.
James Durham was the eldest son of John Durham of Easter Powrie, north of Dundee. He was educated at University of St Andrews, and betook himself to the life of a country gentleman. While visiting his mother-in-law in the parish of Abercorn, he came under profound religious impressions in consequence of a sermon by Melvill, minister of Queensferry. Joining in the Civil War, he was promoted captain, and seriously exhorted and led the devotions of his company; this being noticed by Professor Dickson, he was induced to prepare himself for the ministry, a resolution which was hastened by two narrow escapes on the battlefield. He graduated M.A.. He was licensed for the ministry by the Presbytery of Irvine 18 May 1647. He was admitted to the congregation of Blackfriars 2 December 1647. Durham was appointed chaplain to the King July 1650. He called 4 September 1651, with charge of West Quarter of the city. He endeavoured, without success, to effect a union between the two contending parties in the Church in 1652. He died of consumption, 25 June 1658.
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John Paul DD (1795–1873) was a minister of the Church of Scotland who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1847. A major figure in Edinburgh society, he was linked to both the Balfours of Leith and the Stevenson family of engineers.
David Dickson of Persilands or David Dickson the Elder (1754–1820) was a Church of Scotland minister and father of David Dickson the Younger.
Alexander Bryce (1713–1786) was a Church of Scotland minister, mathematician, astronomer, scientist and poet who was Chaplain in Ordinary to King George III from 1770 to 1786.
David Johnstone (1734–1824) was a Church of Scotland minister who served almost 60 years as minister of North Leith Parish Church. He was Chaplain in Ordinary to King George IV in Scotland.
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.
Robert Paul was born at St. Cuthbert's Manse, 15 May 1788. He was educated at the High School and University of Edinburgh. He subsequently entered the Bank of Ramsay, Bonar and Company, Edinburgh, in 1807. Paul was appointed first Accountant to the Commercial Bank of Scotland, which commenced business in Picardy Place, Edinburgh, in 1810 ; Secretary of the Bank 31 July 1823, and Manager 17 December 1835, which office he held till he retired in December 1853. He then became a Director of the Bank, and continued to be so till his death, which took place at Kirkland Lodge, Hermiston, near Edinburgh, 16 July 1866. A memoir of him was written by his old friend Benjamin Bell, in 1872. He is remembered for his place in the history of Scottish banking and as an influential elder in the lead up to, and the early days of, the Free Church of Scotland. He was the sitter in portraits by Hill & Adamson and by John Watson Gordon.
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