John Cook (1807-1869)

Very Rev Prof John Cook DD (1807–1869) was a Scottish minister and Professor of Church History who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1859.

Life

He was born in St Andrews on 1 September 1807 the son of Rev Prof John Cook and his wife, Elizabeth Hill, and grandson of Rev John Cook (Moderator in 1816).[1]

He studied Divinity at St Andrews University and gained his MA in 1823. The following year he became a factor at St Mary's College in St Andrews. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of the Church of Scotland at Fordoun in 1828 and ordained as minister of Laurencekirk in 1829. In October 1845 he was translated to St Leonards Church in St Andrews. The University awarded him an honorary doctorate (DD) in 1848.[2]

In 1849 he was Convenor of the General Assembly and sat on the committee for Improving the Condition of Parish Schoolteachers (which were largely run by the church) in 1850, and that on appointing Army and Navy Chaplains in 1859. In the same year he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly.[1]

In 1860 Queen Victoria proposed him as Professor of Church History at St Andrews University. In 1863 she further appointed him Dean of the Chapel Royal.[1]

He died on 17 April 1869.

Family

In 1837 he married Rachel Susan Farquhar, daughter of William Farquhar of London.

He was father to five daughters, the youngest being Rachel Cook (1848–1905) a social reformer.[3]

His maternal uncle was Rev George Hill.

His brother was Rev George Cook.

Due to the high number of family members named "John Cook", most of which are of public note, the family tree is a complicated series of the same name, causing much confusion. Almost all members of the family served as a Moderator of the General Assembly at some time.

Cook Hill family tree
John HillGeorge HillJanet HillJohn Cook (1739–1816)
Alexander HillElisabeth HillJohn Cook (historian)George Cook
John Cook (1807–1869)John Cook (1807–1874)
Rachel Cook

Publications
  • Evidence on Church Patronage (1838)
  • Six Lectures on the Christian Evidences (1852)

References
  1. "Full text of "Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae : the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation"". archive.org. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  2. ODNB: John Cook 1807–1869
  3. ODNB: Rachel Scott
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