David Leitch (or Leith) (born 1608) was a Scottish philosopher who was commissioned to create various paraphrases and served as chaplain to the army during the
English Civil War
The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...
and as chaplain to King Charles II.
Life
Leitch was born in 1607/8 the younger son of Rev Andrew Leitch of Maryton near Montrose on the
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire ( sco, Aiberdeenshire; gd, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland.
It takes its name from the County of Aberdeen which has substantially differe ...
coast. His brother was John Leitch the
epigram
An epigram is a brief, interesting, memorable, and sometimes surprising or satirical statement. The word is derived from the Greek "inscription" from "to write on, to inscribe", and the literary device has been employed for over two mille ...
matist. He graduated MA from
King's College, Aberdeen
King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland, the full title of which is The University and King's College of Aberdeen (''Collegium Regium Abredonense''), is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and now an integral part of the Universi ...
in 1624 and remained there for some years, first as a "Regent" (the equivalent of a Fellow) then as "Sub-Principal" (Deputy Principal) from 1632.Fasti Ecclesiastae Scoticana by Hew Scott
He is also said to have been a professor at King's College (this would be normal for the Sub-Principal) and in April 1635 was the official who presided over the funeral of Patrick Forbes,
Bishop of Aberdeen
The Bishop of Aberdeen (originally Bishop of Mortlach, in Latin Murthlacum) was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th-century cleric named Nech ...
.The Letters and Journals of Robert Baillie AM
In 1638 he was ordained as minister of
Ellon Ellon may refer to:
*Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Ellon ( gd, Eilean) is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan, which has one of the few undeveloped river estuaries on the eastern coast of Scotla ...
, north of Aberdeen. At the instigation of the Covenant he fled and sought protection of the King (Charles I), with whom he seems to have been personally acquainted, only returning to his ministry in June 1639. He gave a penitent sermon and swore allegiance to the Kirk in September 1640.
In 1644 he is recorded as seeing a vision just after midnight of the sun shining as if in the day. He called his
beadle
A beadle, sometimes spelled bedel, is an official of a church or synagogue who may usher, keep order, make reports, and assist in religious functions; or a minor official who carries out various civil, educational, or ceremonial duties on the ...
and neighbours who also witnessed the event.
In 1648 he was commissioned with John Adamson and
Zachary Boyd
Zachary Boyd (1585–1653) was a Scottish minister and university administrator who wrote many sermons, scriptural versifications and other devotional works.King Charles in his capacity as King of Scotland.
He was arrested and imprisoned at
Worcester Castle
Worcester Castle was a Norman fortification built between 1068 and 1069 in Worcester, England by Urse d'Abetot on behalf of William the Conqueror. The castle had a motte-and-bailey design and was located on the south side of the old Anglo-Saxon ...
by Parliamentary forces but released in December 1649. He then returned to Scotland where he was appointed minister of
Kemnay
Kemnay ( Gaelic: ''Camnaidh'') is a village west of Aberdeen in Garioch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
History
The village name ''Kemnay'' is believed to originate from the Celtic words that mean "little crook in the river" due to the village loc ...
on 15 January 1650. He was replaced by Rev James Willox (formerly of Old Machar) in September 1654.
In 1653 when he was awarded a
Doctor of Divinity
A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity.
In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...
whilst he was living near
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
. He promised to return to his parish before 1 November but did not do so. On 16 May he was preaching in a church on the roadway to London. His fate is thereafter unknown. He corresponded with
Drummond of Hawthornden
William Drummond (13 December 15854 December 1649), called "of Hawthornden", was a Scottish poet.
Life
Drummond was born at Hawthornden Castle, Midlothian, to John Drummond, the first laird of Hawthornden, and Susannah Fowler, sister of the ...
and Sir
Thomas Urquhart
Sir Thomas Urquhart (1611–1660) was a Scottish aristocrat, writer, and translator. He is best known for his translation of the works of French Renaissance writer François Rabelais to English.
Biography
Urquhart was born to Thomas Urquhart ...
, who respected him as a poet, Latin scholar and theologian. He died sometime after 1657 (his last known published work).Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: David Veitch
Family
Leitch married Elspet Gordon and had at least three children:
*David Leitch, burgess in Aberdeen (b.1655) and two daughters, Jean and Elizabeth.