Robert Reid (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Robert Reid was abbot of Kinloss
, commendator-prior of Beauly
, and bishop of Orkney
. He was one of the greatest of the bishop
s of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Scotland
, and his legacy was the founding of the University of Edinburgh
.
Robert Reid was Sub-Dean at Elgin Cathedral
before becoming the abbot of the Cistercian monastery
of Kinloss Abbey
at Kinloss
, Moray
; he also held the priory
of Beauly
in commendam. He was respected for his learning and wisdom, and brought the Italian
scholar, Giovanni Ferrerio of Piedmont
to Kinloss in 1528. Ferrerio's teachings over a five year period made Kinloss a centre of academic excellence, and he wrote a continuation of Hector Boece
's history, extending it to the end of the reign of James III of Scotland
.
Robert commissioned altarpieces for the abbey church from the artist Andrew Bairhum, who also decorated some of the bishop's rooms, and had a new library built. While abbot, Reid was sent on diplomatic missions as the king’s commissioner, discussing peace with Henry VIII of England
and going to France
in connection with the marriage of James V of Scotland
.
Reid was made Bishop of Orkney
in 1541, and had extensive alterations made to the Bishop's Palace
which was his official residence adjoining St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall. He continued as Commendator of Kinloss in his post at Kinloss until 1553, then resigned in favour of his nephew, Walter Reid. He was Lord President of the Court of Session
from 1543 until his death. At his death in 1558 Robert Reid left the funds that ultimately provided the endowment for the University of Edinburgh.
Abbot of Kinloss
The Abbot of Kinloss was the head of the property and Cistercian monastic community of Kinloss Abbey, Moray, founded by King David I of Scotland around 1151 by monks from Melrose Abbey. The abbey was transformed into a temporal lordship for Edward Bruce, the last commendator, who became Lord Kinloss...
, commendator-prior of Beauly
Prior of Beauly
The Prior of Beauly was the head of the Valliscaulian monastic community and lands of Beauly Priory, Beauly, Inverness-shire. It was probably founded in 1230. It became Cistercian on April 16, 1510...
, and bishop of Orkney
Bishop of Orkney
The Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics within the territory of modern Scotland. It included both Orkney and Shetland. It was based for almost all of its history at St...
. He was one of the greatest of the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and his legacy was the founding of 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...
.
Robert Reid was Sub-Dean at Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, sometimes referred to as The Lantern of the North is a historic ruin in Elgin, Moray, north-east Scotland. It was established in 1224 on an area of ground granted by Alexander II that was close to the River Lossie and outside of the burgh of...
before becoming the abbot of the Cistercian monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Kinloss Abbey
Kinloss Abbey
Kinloss Abbey is a Cistercian abbey approximately 3 miles east of Forres in the county of Moray, Scotland.The abbey was founded in 1150 by King David I and was first colonised by monks from Melrose Abbey. It received its Papal Bull from Pope Alexander III in 1174, and later came under the...
at Kinloss
Kinloss
Kinloss is a village in Moray, Scotland. It is located near the shore of Findhorn Bay, around 3 miles from Findhorn and 2.5 miles from Forres. RAF Kinloss is located northeast of the village, and is transitioning to an Army barracks.The Cistercian Kinloss Abbey was created in 1150 by King David...
, Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
; he also held the priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
of Beauly
Beauly
Beauly is a town of the Scottish county of Inverness-shire, on the River Beauly, 10 miles west of Inverness by the Far North railway line. Its population was 855 in 1901...
in commendam. He was respected for his learning and wisdom, and brought the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
scholar, Giovanni Ferrerio of Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
to Kinloss in 1528. Ferrerio's teachings over a five year period made Kinloss a centre of academic excellence, and he wrote a continuation of Hector Boece
Hector Boece
Hector Boece , known in Latin as Hector Boecius or Boethius, was a Scottish philosopher and first Principal of King's College in Aberdeen, a predecessor of the University of Aberdeen.-Biography:He was born in Dundee where he attended school...
's history, extending it to the end of the reign of James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
.
Robert commissioned altarpieces for the abbey church from the artist Andrew Bairhum, who also decorated some of the bishop's rooms, and had a new library built. While abbot, Reid was sent on diplomatic missions as the king’s commissioner, discussing peace with Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
and going to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in connection with the marriage of James V of Scotland
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
.
Reid was made Bishop of Orkney
Bishop of Orkney
The Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics within the territory of modern Scotland. It included both Orkney and Shetland. It was based for almost all of its history at St...
in 1541, and had extensive alterations made to the Bishop's Palace
Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall
The Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall was built at the same time as the adjacent St Magnus Cathedral in the centre of Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, was being constructed, and housed the cathedral's first bishop, William the Old of the Norwegian Catholic church who took his authority from the Archbishop of...
which was his official residence adjoining St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall. He continued as Commendator of Kinloss in his post at Kinloss until 1553, then resigned in favour of his nephew, Walter Reid. He was Lord President of the Court of Session
Lord President of the Court of Session
The Lord President of the Court of Session is head of the judiciary in Scotland, and presiding judge of the College of Justice and Court of Session, as well as being Lord Justice General of Scotland and head of the High Court of Justiciary, the offices having been combined in 1836...
from 1543 until his death. At his death in 1558 Robert Reid left the funds that ultimately provided the endowment for the University of Edinburgh.