George Reid (1692–1763) was a minister of 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 ...

, who served as

Moderator of the General Assembly The moderator of the General Assembly is the Chair (official), chairperson of a General Assembly (presbyterian church), General Assembly, the highest court of a Presbyterian or Calvinism, Reformed church. Kirk sessions and presbytery (church pol ...

in 1755.

Life

Reid was born in or near Edinburgh in 1692. In 1718, he graduated with an MA from 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 ...

. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of

Dalkeith Dalkeith ( ; , ) is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, on the River Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1541. The settlement of Dalkeith grew southwestwards from its 12th-century castle (now Dalkeith Pala ...

in April 1720.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; by Hew Scott He was ordained at Symington in

Ayrshire Ayrshire (, ) is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration county, in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. The lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area of Ayrshire and Arran covers the entirety ...

in March 1723. In November 1732 he was translated to the small, ancient parish of

St Quivox St Quivox is a small Scottish village north of Ayr and east of Prestwick. It lies on the B7035 east of the A77 road, A77. History The uniquely named village is said to be a corruption either of St Kevoca, St Kevoch or St Kennocha. It is tho ...

east of

Ayr Ayr ( ; ; , meaning "confluence of the River Àir"), is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. A former royal burgh, today it is the administrative centre of South Ayrshire Council, and the historic county town of Ayrshire. With ...

and retained this post for over 40 years. In 1755 he succeeded Robert Hamilton as

Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the minister or elder chosen to moderate (chair) the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every year. After chairing the Ass ...

the highest position in the Scottish Church. He was succeeded by

William Leechman William Leechman or Leishman (1706 – 3 December 1785) was a Scottish minister, theologian and academic. He was Professor of Divinity and later Principal at Glasgow University. Early life and education The son of William Leechman, a far ...

. He died in

on 21 March 1763 aged 70. His position at St Quivox was filled by Rev Dr

William McQuhae William McQuhae or M'Quhae (1737–1823) was a senior Scottish clergyman in the Church of Scotland who by the time of his death was Father of the Church. He is one of the few persons to have declined the offer to be Moderator of the General Assemb ...

, who had declined Moderatorship (in 1805).

Family

In 1745 he married Janet Ballantine, daughter of Ninian Ballantine of Gardrum and widow of Thomas Patertson a merchant in Ayr. They had children.

References

1692 births 1763 deaths Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland People from St Quivox {{Scotland-reli-bio-stub