Robert Henry (minister)

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Robert Henry
Black and white engraving of a portrait of Robert Henry
Born(1718-02-18)18 February 1718
Died24 November 1790(1790-11-24) (aged 72)

Robert Henry

minister
and historian.

Life

Old and New Greyfriars
St Giles in the 18th century

He was born on 18 February 1718, the son of Jean Galloway and James Henry, a farmer at Muirton Farm near St. Ninians, Stirlingshire.[1]

Henry was educated at St Ninian's Parish School then

Carlisle, and translated in 1760 to Berwick-upon-Tweed, still just over the Scottish border (the rules on patronage were different in England).[1]

In May 1768 he finally got a position in Scotland: as minister at

New Greyfriars in Edinburgh. The University of Edinburgh granted him an honorary doctorate (DD) in July 1770. At this time he lived at Bristo Street, just south of Greyfriars Church.[2]

He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1774.

In 1776 he moved from New Greyfriars to

Old Kirk, St Giles
and remained in this role until death.

In 1783 he was one of the co-founders of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

He died on 24 November 1790 at his home in Merchant Street in Edinburgh (just south of St Giles) but is buried with his family in Polmont churchyard. His position at St Giles was filled by Henry Grieve. He bequeathed his library to the Town Council of Linlithgow but his link to this town is unclear.[3]

Family

In June 1763 he was married to Anne Balderston (d. 1800).[4]

Works

He wrote the 6-volume History of Great Britain on a New Plan (1771),

King Henry VIII. The novelty consisted in dividing the subjects into different heads, civil history, military, social, and so on, and following out each of them separately. The work was mainly a compilation, having no critical qualities. Despite the persistent and ferocious attacks of Dr Gilbert Stewart, it was successful, and brought the author over £3000. It attracted the support of the Earl of Mansfield
, whose persuasion gained for Henry a government pension of £100.

Other publications included:

  • "Revelation: The Most Effectual Means of Civilising and Reforming Mankind" (1773)
  • Translation of Goguet's "Origins of Laws, Arts and Science" from French to English (1761)

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-902-198-84-X. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  2. ^ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1773-74
  3. ^ Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae by Hew Scott. 1866-1871
  4. ^ Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae by Hew Scott. 1866-1871
  5. ^ Henry, Robert. The History of Great Britain, from the First Invasion of It by the Romans under Julius Cæser. Written on a New Plan. T. Cadell (London), 1771.

External links

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