Andrew Cant (c.1626–1685) was a Scottish

clergyman Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

and

scholar A scholar is a person who pursues academic and intellectual activities, particularly academics who apply their intellectualism into expertise in an area of study. A scholar can also be an academic, who works as a professor, teacher, or researche ...

, and Principal of the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

from 1675 to 1685.

Life

He was born in

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

the son of Andrew Cant (1584–1663). He graduated MA from

Marischal College Marischal College ( ) is a large granite building on Broad Street in the centre of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland, and since 2011 has acted as the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council. However, the building was constructed for and is on long- ...

in Aberdeen in 1644. He served as Regent of the college from 1649 to 1658. In March 1659 he was ordained as minister of Liberton Church just south of Edinburgh. After 14 years he was translated to Trinity Parish in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

in 1673, replacing Joshua Meldrum. In 1675 he was elected Principal of

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 1582 ...

. On 29 September 1675 the Town Council of Edinburgh appointed him "second charge" of

St Giles Cathedral St Giles' Cathedral ( gd, Cathair-eaglais Naomh Giles), or the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh. The current building was begun in the 14th century and extended ...

under

William Annand William Annand (April 10, 1808 – October 12, 1887) was a Nova Scotia publisher and politician. He was a member of the North British Society. Annand was born in Halifax. He was educated in Scotland and returned to Nova Scotia in the 1820 ...

. As an Edinburgh minister during the reign of Charles II, and consequently is assumed to have been an adherent of

Episcopacy A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

. He died on 4 December 1685.

Publications

*Theses Philosophical *De Libero Arbitrio *Oratio de Concordia Theologorum et Discordia

Family

He married three times: Firstly in 1653 to Ann Burnet, daughter of Sir Thomas Burnet, 1st Baronet of Leys in

Kincardineshire Kincardineshire, also known as the Mearns (from the Scottish Gaelic meaning "the Stewartry"), is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area on the coast of northeast Scotland. It is bounded by Aberdeenshire on the north and w ...

. Ann died in 1662. He secondly married Jean Cockburn in 1663. They had three daughters and three sons before she died in 1675. He lastly married Anne Murray around 1678. She died in 1685 having one daughter, Agnes, in 1678. His nephew Andrew Cant (d.1728) was deprived of his charge in Edinburgh, at the Revolution of 1689, and, on 17 October 1722 was consecrated as one of the

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

s of the disestablished Episcopal Church in Scotland.ODNB:Andrew Cant

References

Citations

Sources

* People from Aberdeen Principals of the University of Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh 1685 deaths 17th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland Year of birth uncertain Ministers of St Giles' Cathedral {{Scotland-reli-bio-stub