Robert Lee (minister)

Rev Prof Robert Lee DD (1804-1868) was the first Professor of Biblical Criticism at edinburgh University. He was both minister of Greyfriars Kirk and Dean of the Chapel Royal serving Queen Victoria.

Life

The grave of Rev Prof Robert Lee, Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh

He was born in Tweedmouth on 11 November 1804. He was the eldest of three sons to George Lee, a boat-builder from a long line of boat-builders on the River Tweed, and his wife, Jane Lambert. He was educated at Berwick Grammar School. He was then apprenticed into the family business, working as a boat-builder for six years. However, in 1824, his family seeing his potential, paid for him to study Classics at St Andrews University in Scotland. He supplemented his income by tutoring the young George Whyte-Melville. [1]

He was ordained into the Church of Scotland, his first charge being Arbroath Chapel of Ease. In 1836 he was translated to Campsie, Stirlingshire.

In 1843 he made the life-changing move to be minister of Old Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh. Unlike many of his peers, he did not leave the established church in the Disruption of 1843 and remained true to his beliefs. St Andrews University granted him a doctorate (DD) in 1844. In 1847 he became the first Professor of Biblical Criticism at Edinburgh University. He lived at 24 George Square in Edinburgh, not far from his church.[2]

He was gravely ill for the last 9 months of his life following a fall from his horse on Princes Street after an evening out with fellow ministers on the eve of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1867. In late autumn 1867 he gave up his ministry and went to live with a friend Rev Alfred Edersheim in Torquay, hoping the climate would improve his health. He died on 14 March 1868 during a visit to Torquay in southern England.[3]

His body was returned to Edinburgh for burial and he is buried in the south-east section of Grange Cemetery in southern Edinburgh. The pale sandstone monument, bearing his head in high relief, was sculpted by John Hutchison.

Family

In 1836 he married Isabella Carrick Buchanan. They had one son and four daughters.

Publications

Artistic Recognition

His painting, by James R. Edgar, is held by the National Gallery of Scotland.[4]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.berwickfriends.org.uk/history/the-lee-family-boatbuilders-of-tweedmouth/
  2. ↑ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1868-69
  3. ↑ http://www.churchservicesociety.org/sites/default/files/journals/1969-27.pdf
  4. ↑ http://artuk.org/discover/artworks/reverend-robert-lee-18041868-regius-professor-of-biblical-criticism-214494#
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