Robert James Brown (moderator) explained

Type:minister
Robert James Brown
Church:Drumblade
Birth Date:23 December 1792
Birth Place:Utrecht
Death Date:7 December 1872 (aged 79)
Alma Mater:Marischal College, Aberdeen

Robert James Brown (1792 - 1872) was a Scottish minister, who served as Moderator of the General Assembly for the Free Church of Scotland 1846/47. He was familiarly known by his students as the Dorian.

Life

He was born in Utrecht in the Netherlands on 23 December 1792 the third son of Rev Dr William Laurence Brown (1755–1830), sometime Professor of Divinity at Aberdeen, and his wife, Ann Elizabeth Brown (William's first cousin). He studied Divinity under his father at Marischal College in Aberdeen.

He was licensed to preach by the Church of Scotland in 1812. He was ordained into the church at Drumblade in 1821. In 1827 he was appointed Professor of Greek at Marischal College in Aberdeen. He was given an honorary doctorate (DD) in 1834.[1]

In 1843 he left the established Church of Scotland and joined the Free Church. He retained his professorship at Aberdeen. In 1846 he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly in succession to Rev Patrick MacFarlan.[2] He was succeeded in turn in 1847 by the Rev James Sievewright.[3]

He died at home, 19 Golden Square in Aberdeen on 7 December 1872[4] and was buried beside his wife at Nellfied Cemetery.

Family

He married 26 April 1828, Jane (died s.p. 1 January 1854, aged 65), daughter of William Stronach, minister of Marnoch.

Bibliography

Artistic recognition

He was photographed by Hill & Adamson around 1844.[5] [6] [7] [8]

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Ewing, William Annals of the Free Church
  2. Free Church Monthly; May 1873
  3. Ewing, William Annals of the Free Church; Sievewright
  4. Aberdeen Post Office Directory 1872
  5. Web site: Professor Robert James Brown, two unknown men, Rev. Dr James Henderson, Rev. Dr John Forbes and Rev. Dr John Smyth [Group 52]]. National Galleries of Scotland.
  6. Web site: GUL Number: HA0032 . Hill and Adamson Collection . Glasgow University.
  7. Web site: GUL Number: HA0033 . Hill and Adamson Collection . Glasgow University.
  8. Web site: GUL Number: HA0580 . Hill and Adamson Collection . Glasgow University.