Hugh Blair

BLAIR, Hugh. b. Edinburgh, 7 April 1718; d. Edinburgh, 27 September 1800. According to James Mearns* (JJ, pp. 144-5), he was educated at the University of Edinburgh from 1730 (when he was twelve years of age), graduating MA in 1739 (Mearns gives his death date as 27 December 1800). He was licensed to preach in October 1741, and became minister of Collessie, Fife, in 1742. He moved as second minister to the Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, in 1743, and to Lady Yester’s Kirk (see William Robertson, d. 1745*) in 1754. He was awarded an Honorary DD by the University of St Andrews in 1757. He became one of the collegiate ministers of the High Church (now St Giles’ Cathedral) in 1758. In 1762 he was...