Robert James Brown (moderator)
The Very Rev Prof Robert James Brown DD (1792–1872) was a 19th-century Scottish minister, who served as Moderator of the General Assembly for the Free Church of Scotland 1846/47.
Life
He was born in Utrecht in the Netherlands on 23 December 1792 the third son of Rev Dr William Laurence Brown (1755-1830), sometime Professor of Divinity at Aberdeen, and his wife, Ann Elizabeth Brown (William's first cousin). He studied Divinity under his father at Marischal College in Aberdeen.[1]
He was licensed to preach by the Church of Scotland in 1812. He was ordained into the church at Drumblade in 1821. In 1827 he was appointed Professor of Greek at Marischal College in Aberdeen. He was given an honorary doctorate (DD) in 1834.[2]
In 1843 he left the established Church of Scotland and joined the Free Church. He retained his professorship at Aberdeen. In 1846 he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly in succession to Rev Patrick MacFarlan.[3] He was succeeded in turn in 1847 by the Rev James Sievewright.[4]
He died at home, 19 Golden Square in Aberdeen on 7 December 1872.[5]
Artistic recognition
He was photographed by Hill & Adamson around 1844.[6]
References
- Philip, R. G. (February 24, 1944). "Notes on the early Moderators of the Free Church (1843-1850)". SCHS – via Internet Archive.
- Ewing, William Annals of the Free Church
- Free Church Monthly; May 1873
- Ewing, William Annals of the Free Church; Sievewright
- Aberdeen Post Office Directory 1872
- "Professor Robert James Brown, two unknown men, Rev. Dr James Henderson, Rev. Dr John Forbes and Rev. Dr John Smyth [Group 52]". National Galleries of Scotland.