Andrew Crichton
Encyclopedia
Andrew Crichton was a Scottish biographer
and historian
.
Crichton, youngest son of a small landed proprietor, was born in the parish of Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire
, December 1790, and educated at Dumfries Academy
and at the university of Edinburgh
.
After becoming a licensed preacher he was for some time engaged in teaching in Edinburgh
and North Berwick
. In 1823 he published his first work, the Life of the Rev. John Blackadder, which was followed by the Life of Colonel J. Blackadder, 1824, and Memoirs of the Rev. Thomas Scott, 1825. To Constable's Miscellany he contributed five volumes, viz. Converts from Infidelity, 2 vols. 1827, and a translation of Koch's Revolutions in Europe, 3 vols. 1828.
In the Edinburgh Cabinet Library he wrote the History of Arabia, 2 vols. 1833, and Scandinavia, Ancient and Modern (written with Henry Wheaton), 2 vols. 1838. He commenced his connection with the newspaper press in 1828 by editing (at first in conjunction with De Quincey
) the Edinburgh Evening Post. In 1830 he conducted the North Briton
, and in 1832 he undertook the editorship of the Edinburgh Advertiser
, in which employment he continued till June 1851.
He contributed extensively to periodicals, among others to the Westminster Review
, Tait's Edinburgh Magazine, the Dublin University Magazine
, Fraser's Magazine
, the Church Review, and the Church of Scotland Magazine and Review.
In 1837 the university of St. Andrews conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws. He was a member of the presbytery of Edinburgh
, being ruling elder of the congregation of Trinity College Church, and sat in the general assembly of the Church of Scotland
as elder
for the burgh
of Cullen for three years previous to his decease.
He died at 33 St. Bernard's Crescent, Edinburgh, 9 Jan. 1855.
He married first, in July 1835, Isabella Calvert, daughter of James Calvert, LL.D. of Montrose
, she died in November 1837; and secondly, December 1844, Jane, daughter of the Rev. John Duguid, minister of Erie and Kendall.
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
.
Crichton, youngest son of a small landed proprietor, was born in the parish of Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The lieutenancy area of Dumfries has similar boundaries.Until 1975 it was a county. Its county town was Dumfries...
, December 1790, and educated at Dumfries Academy
Dumfries Academy
Dumfries Academy is one of four secondary schools in the town of Dumfries in South West Scotland.-History:Dumfries Academy has existed in its present form, though not in the buildings it currently occupies, since 1804...
and at the university of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
After becoming a licensed preacher he was for some time engaged in teaching in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and North Berwick
North Berwick
The Royal Burgh of North Berwick is a seaside town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 25 miles east of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the 19th century because of its two sandy bays, the East Bay and the...
. In 1823 he published his first work, the Life of the Rev. John Blackadder, which was followed by the Life of Colonel J. Blackadder, 1824, and Memoirs of the Rev. Thomas Scott, 1825. To Constable's Miscellany he contributed five volumes, viz. Converts from Infidelity, 2 vols. 1827, and a translation of Koch's Revolutions in Europe, 3 vols. 1828.
In the Edinburgh Cabinet Library he wrote the History of Arabia, 2 vols. 1833, and Scandinavia, Ancient and Modern (written with Henry Wheaton), 2 vols. 1838. He commenced his connection with the newspaper press in 1828 by editing (at first in conjunction with De Quincey
Thomas de Quincey
Thomas Penson de Quincey was an English esssayist, best known for his Confessions of an English Opium-Eater .-Child and student:...
) the Edinburgh Evening Post. In 1830 he conducted the North Briton
North Briton
A North Briton is a term used for a person from North Britain, the northern parts of the islands of Great Britain. The adjective form of the name is North British....
, and in 1832 he undertook the editorship of the Edinburgh Advertiser
Edinburgh Advertiser
The Edinburgh Advertiser was a twice-weekly newspaper published in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Tuesday and Friday mornings for almost a century. At the time of its inception, it was the only newspaper published on these days of the week in Edinburgh. It ran from 3 January 1764 until 29 March 1859 when...
, in which employment he continued till June 1851.
He contributed extensively to periodicals, among others to the Westminster Review
Westminster Review
The Westminster Review was a quarterly British publication. Established in 1823 as the official organ of the Philosophical Radicals, it was published from 1824 to 1914. James Mill was one of the driving forces behind the liberal journal until 1828....
, Tait's Edinburgh Magazine, the Dublin University Magazine
Dublin University Magazine
The Dublin University Magazine was an independent literary cultural and political magazine published in Dublin from 1833 to 1882. It started out as a magazine of political commentary but increasingly became devoted to literature.-Early days:...
, Fraser's Magazine
Fraser's Magazine
Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country was a general and literary journal published in London from 1830 to 1882, which initially took a strong Tory line in politics. It was founded by Hugh Fraser and William Maginn in 1830 and loosely directed by Maginn under the name Oliver Yorke until about 1840...
, the Church Review, and the Church of Scotland Magazine and Review.
In 1837 the university of St. Andrews conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws. He was a member of the presbytery of Edinburgh
Presbytery of Edinburgh
The Presbytery of Edinburgh is one of the forty-six presbyteries of the Church of Scotland, being the local presbytery for Edinburgh. Its boundary is almost identical to that of the City of Edinburgh Council area .The current Clerk is the Reverend Dr. George J. Whyte...
, being ruling elder of the congregation of Trinity College Church, and sat in the general assembly of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
as elder
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
for the burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
of Cullen for three years previous to his decease.
He died at 33 St. Bernard's Crescent, Edinburgh, 9 Jan. 1855.
He married first, in July 1835, Isabella Calvert, daughter of James Calvert, LL.D. of Montrose
Montrose, Angus
Montrose is a coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles north of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers...
, she died in November 1837; and secondly, December 1844, Jane, daughter of the Rev. John Duguid, minister of Erie and Kendall.