Life
He was born in the parish of Udny on 31 May 1806, the son of John T. Trail, a farmer. He studied divinity at Kings College, Aberdeen University, graduating MA in 1825. He then spent some years as the private tutor to the children of the Viscount of Arbuthnott. In 1841 he was appointed minister of Arbuthnott Church and stayed in this role until 1844, when he was translated to Birsay church in Orkney. He lived there until 1868. In 1847 he was granted an honorary doctorate by King's College (LLD) and in 1852 was additionally created a Doctor of Divinity (DD). In 1868 he was appointed Professor of Systematic Theology at the newly amalgamated Aberdeen University. He also served as provost of Old Aberdeen. He lived at the Divinity Manse at the university.Aberdeen Post Office Directory 1870 He died on 1 May 1887. He is buried against the outer east wall of St Machar's Cathedral in Old Aberdeen.Family
In 1841 he married Helen Scott, youngest daughter of Rev James Scott of Benholm in Kincardineshire. His daughter Isabella Anne Trail married the civil engineer Andrew JamiesonReferences
1806 births 1887 deaths 19th-century ministers of the Church of Scotland 19th-century Scottish Presbyterian ministers Alumni of the University of Aberdeen Academics of the University of Aberdeen Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland {{Scotland-reli-bio-stub