Alexander Monro (1648–1698) was the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1685 to 1690.

Life

Monro was fourth son of Isobel, daughter of Robert Munro, 6th of Coul, 5th of Balconie, and her husband, Hugh Munro, 4th laird of Fyresh. He was the first of his branch of the family to spell his name Monro as opposed to Munro. He studied for the Church at St Salvator's College at the

University of St Andrews The University of St Andrews (, ; abbreviated as St And in post-nominals) is a public university in St Andrews, Scotland. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest of the four ancient universities of Scotland and, f ...

, graduating with an MA in 1664. He then accompanied, while aged 17, his cousin Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Munro, who was Colonel of Horse in Lord Dumbarton's Regiment (and also a captain in the Royal Scots, 1st Foot Regiment) to France. Alexander Monro saw active service there for two and a half years, before returning to Scotland to complete his education. He resumed studies at St Mary's College (now New College), St Andrews, and graduated MA from there in 1669. He was ordained as a minister in the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland (CoS; ; ) is a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity that holds the status of the national church in Scotland. It is one of the country's largest, having 245,000 members in 2024 and 259,200 members in 2023. While mem ...

in 1673, and on 7 April 1673 he was admitted to the second charge in

Dunfermline Dunfermline (; , ) is a city, parish, and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland, from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. Dunfermline was the de facto capital of the Kingdom of Scotland between the 11th and 15th centuries. The earliest ...

, housed in Dunfermline Abbey. On 26 March 1676 he was translated to Kinglassie in

Fife Fife ( , ; ; ) is a council areas of Scotland, council area and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in Scotland. A peninsula, it is bordered by the Firth of Tay to the north, the North Sea to the east, the Firth of Forth to the s ...

and on 26 April 1678 was translated to the parish of Wemyss. He resigned before March, 1683 having been nominated as Professor of Divinity at St Mary's College, St Andrews by the then Chancellor Archbishop James Sharp of St Andrews. From 1682 to 1685 he was

Principal of the University of St Andrews The Principal of the University of St Andrews is the chief executive and chief academic of the University. The Principal is responsible for the overall running of the university, presiding over the main academic body of the university, known as the ...

. In February 1682 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD) by the University of St Andrews. On 9 December 1685 Alexander Monro was appointed Principal of the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

, being simultaneously appointed by the Town Council of Edinburgh to the Second Charge of the High Church of Edinburgh ( St Giles Cathedral), and inducted on 30 December 1685. As Principal of the University of Edinburgh he received an emolument of 2000 merks and as incumbent of the High Church he received 1600 merks. In 1688

James II of England James II and VII (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II of England, Charles II, on 6 February 1 ...

(VII of Scotland) attempted to have him appointed as Bishop of Argyll, but this fell through as James left the throne. Monro was tried by the Privy Council for refusing to pray for William III and

Mary II Mary II (30 April 1662 – 28 December 1694) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England, List of Scottish monarchs, Scotland, and Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland with her husband, King William III and II, from 1689 until her death in 1694. Sh ...

in disobedience of the Act of Estates passed on 13 April 1689. Although not ejected by the Privy Council he nevertheless resigned as Principal of the University of Edinburgh and from his charge in the north-eastern division of St Giles Cathedral on 24 April 1689. He thus resigned before episcopacy was abolished by the Scottish Parliament on 22 July 1689. On 20 September 1690 he was formally deprived of his Principalship by the Committee of Visitors (which had been appointed by Act of Parliament in July 1690 with wide-ranging powers while visiting Universities, Colleges and Schools). The reason given was his disapproval of the Revolution Settlement (see

Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution, also known as the Revolution of 1688, was the deposition of James II and VII, James II and VII in November 1688. He was replaced by his daughter Mary II, Mary II and her Dutch husband, William III of Orange ...

) as a nonjuror. In addition he was accused of

Socinianism Socinianism ( ) is a Nontrinitarian Christian belief system developed and co-founded during the Protestant Reformation by the Italian Renaissance humanists and theologians Lelio Sozzini and Fausto Sozzini, uncle and nephew, respectively. ...

and

Arminianism Arminianism is a movement of Protestantism initiated in the early 17th century, based on the theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius and his historic supporters known as Remonstrants. Dutch Arminianism was origina ...

. After his resignations in 1690 he acted as a minister for an Episcopalian congregation in Edinburgh for about two years. Subsequently, he moved to London in 1691, living in or near Swallow Street. He died in London in 1698, aged 50.

Works

Monro wrote a work in defence of his faith called ''An Enquiry into the New Opinions (chiefly) Propagated by the Presbyterians of Scotland; Together with some Animadversions on a Late Book entitled 'A defense of the Vindications of the Kirk'; in a Letter to a Friend at Edinburgh''. This prompted his successor as Principal of the University of Edinburgh, Gilbert Rule, to respond with a book called ''The Good Old Way Defended''.

Family

Monro married firstly Anna Logan on 6 May 1673; she came from Aberdour in

and died on 16 May 1674 a few weeks after childbirth. Together they had one daughter, Anna Monro; born 19 March 1674 in Dunfermline, died 1688.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; by Hew Scott Monro married secondly Marion Collace on 11 April 1676 at

Inverkeithing Inverkeithing ( ; ) is a coastal town, parish and historic Royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town lies on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, northwest of Edinburgh city centre and south of Dunfermline. A town of ancient origin, Inverke ...

. She was the daughter, it is believed, of Rev. Andrew Collace, who served as minister of Garvoch (1615), of St Cyres (1617), and of

Dundee Dundee (; ; or , ) is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, fourth-largest city in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate for the locality was . It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firt ...

(1635–39). She survived her husband by 17 years, remaining in London. Their children were * Elizabeth Monro; born 26 June 1677; married her cousin Capt. George Papley. * David Monro; born 1679, in Wemyss manse; died young. * Dr James Monro, FRCP; 1680–1747; a physician and founder of a noted family of doctors connected with Bedlam (

Bethlem Hospital Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as St Mary Bethlehem, Bethlehem Hospital and Bedlam, is a psychiatric hospital in Bromley, London. Its famous history has inspired several horror books, films, and television series, most notably '' Bedlam'', ...

). * Margaret, James' twin * Five daughters dying in infancy or early youth and all before 1690.

References

Sources

*''History of the Munros of Fowlis'' by Alexander Mackenzie, privately published, 1898, Inverness. A copy of this book was in the library of the University of Edinburgh. {{DEFAULTSORT:Monro, Alexander Principals of the University of Edinburgh Alumni of the University of St Andrews 1648 births 1698 deaths