Robert Henry
| Robert Henry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 18, 1718 |
| Died | November 24, 1790 (aged 72) |
Very Rev Robert Henry FRSE FSA(Scot) (18 February 1718 – 24 November 1790) was a Scottish minister and historian.
Biography
He was born on 18 February 1718, the son of James Henry, a farmer, and his wife, Jean Galloway at Muirton Farm near St. Ninians, Stirlingshire.[1]
Henry was educated at St Ninian's Parish School then Stirling High School. He then studied at the University of Edinburgh. After teaching at Annan, he entered the Church of Scotland, being licensed in 1746 and first preaching in Annan. In 1748, as a dissenter, he moved to Carlisle, and in 1760 to Berwick-upon-Tweed.[2]
He then was translated to be minister at New Greyfriars in Edinburgh in 1768. Edinburgh University granted him a doctorate (DD) in 1771. At this time he lived at Bristo Street, just south of Greyfriars Church.[3]
He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1774.
In 1776 he moved from New Greyfriars to Old Greyfriars (the other half of the same building) and remained in this role until death.
In 1783 he was one of thecp-founders of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
He died on 24 November 1790 at his home in Merchant Street in Edinburgh (just east of Greyfriars) but is buried with his family in Polmont churchyard.
Family
He was married to Anne Balderston.
Works
He wrote the 6-volume History of Great Britain on a New Plan (1771),[4] covering the period from the first Roman invasion until the reign of King Henry VIII. The novelty consisted in dividing the subjects into different heads, civil history, military, social, and so on, and following out each of them separately. The work was mainly a compilation, having no critical qualities. Despite the persistent and ferocious attacks of Dr. Gilbert Stewart, it was highly successful, and brought the author over £3000. It attracted the support of the Earl of Mansfield, whose persuasion gained for Henry a government pension of £100.
References
- ↑ BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF FORMER FELLOWS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 1783 – 2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.
- ↑ BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF FORMER FELLOWS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 1783 – 2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.
- ↑ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1773-74
- ↑ Henry, Robert. The History of Great Britain, from the First Invasion of It by the Romans under Julius Cæser. Written on a New Plan. T. Cadell (London), 1771.
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Cousin, John William (1910). "Henry, Robert". A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London: J. M. Dent & Sons. Wikisource - The History of Stirlingshire by William Nimmo, revised by W. M. Stirling and R. Gillespie, 1880
External links
- Works written by or about Robert Henry at Wikisource