John Adamson (university Principal)
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John Adamson MA (1576–1653) was a Scottish minister and
academic An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...
. Adamson was
Principal of the University of Edinburgh Principals of the University of Edinburgh * 1586 Robert Rollock (Regent from 1583 to 1586) * 1599 Henry Charteris * 1620 Patrick Sands * 1622 Robert Boyd * 1623 John Adamson (died in office in 1652 but the original successor, William Co ...
from 1623 until his death in 1653.


Life

Adamson's father, Henry, who served as Provost of Perth, was an elder brother of Patrick Adamson,
Archbishop of St Andrews The Bishop of St. Andrews (, ) was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews in the Catholic Church and then, from 14 August 1472, as Archbishop of St Andrews (), the Archdiocese of St Andrews. The name St Andrews is not the town ...
. Educated at Perth Grammar School, Adamson proceeded early to 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 ...
, where subsequently he held the professorial chair of philosophy. In 1597 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 ...
and in 1598 he was made a "regent of philosophy", the equivalent of a modern Fellow, at the University. As a regent he would lecture to younger students. In 1604, having been presented to the church of
North Berwick North Berwick (; ) is a seaside resort, seaside town and former royal burgh in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately east-northeast of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holi ...
, he became minister of that parish. In March 1609, under patronage of
King James VI James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...
, he was translated to the parish of Liberton, south of Edinburgh.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; by Hew Scott In 1616, he sat on the Aberdeen General Assembly and was asked to draw up a
liturgy Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembra ...
and
catechism A catechism (; from , "to teach orally") is a summary or exposition of Catholic theology, doctrine and serves as a learning introduction to the Sacraments traditionally used in catechesis, or Christian religious teaching of children and adult co ...
specifically for children. In 1623, following Robert Boyd of Trochrig's resignation on grounds of ill-health, Adamson 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 ...
, a post which he then held until his death in 1651. He was succeeded by Robert Leighton, who did not take office until 1653 after outside interference with the original choice, William Colvill.


Family

In 1607 he married Marion Auchmoutie (d. 1651) daughter of Thomas Auchmoutie, an Edinburgh merchant. Their children were David Adamson (b. 1608) and Marie (b. 1611).


Works

Adamson was a close friend of
Andrew Melville Andrew Melville (1 August 1545 – 1622) was a Scottish scholar, theologian, poet and religious reformer. His fame encouraged scholars from the European continent to study at Glasgow and St. Andrews. He was born at Baldovie, on 1 August 154 ...
, and it is believed that he collected the Latin poems of Andrew Melville, under the title ''Viri clarissimi A. Melvini Mvsae'' (1620). His own works include ''Dioptrae Gloriae Divinae'' (1637), a commentary on Psalm XIX, and ''Methodus Religionis Christianae'' (1637). His ''Traveller's Joy'', to which is added ''The Ark'' (1623) are poetry. He edited the ''Muses Welcome'' (1617);''Tὰ τῶν Μουσῶν Εἰσόδια. The Muses Welcome to the High and Mighty Prince Iames by the grace of God King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. At his Majestie's happie Returne to his olde and native Kingdome of Scotland, after 14 yeeres absence, in Anno 1617. Digested according to the order of his Majesties Progresse. By I. A.'' it preserved speeches, theses and poems by himself and many contemporaries (among them Alexander Hume,
David Hume David Hume (; born David Home; – 25 August 1776) was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist who was best known for his highly influential system of empiricism, philosophical scepticism and metaphysical naturalism. Beg ...
, Drummond of Hawthornden, David Wedderburn, Robert Boyd, and David Primrose), and includes Drummond's 'Panegyricke to the King,' which contains his enumeration of the rivers of Scotland. Nichols's ''Progresses of James I'' preserves the speeches.


Notes


External links


AdamsonAncestry.com
;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Adamson, John 1576 births 1653 deaths People from Perth, Scotland Alumni of the University of St Andrews 17th-century ministers of the Church of Scotland 17th-century Scottish Presbyterian ministers Principals of the University of Edinburgh 16th-century Scottish educators 15th-century educators 16th-century ministers of the Church of Scotland 16th-century Scottish Presbyterian ministers