Edward Wright of Kersie (c.1605–1683) was a minister of the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland. The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...

who served as Principal of

Glasgow University , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

from 1662 to 1683.

Life

He was born around 1605 the son of William Wright, probably at Kersie Mains, a property on the

River Forth The River Forth is a major river in central Scotland, long, which drains into the North Sea on the east coast of the country. Its drainage basin covers much of Stirlingshire in Scotland's Central Belt. The Gaelic name for the upper reach of t ...

near Falkirk. His father was a merchant either in Falkirk and/or Edinburgh. Edward was educated at

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted ...

graduating MA in June 1620. Joining the

he was ordained as minister of

Clackmannan Clackmannan ( ; gd, Clach Mhanainn, perhaps meaning "Stone of Manau"), is a small town and civil parish set in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated within the Forth Valley, Clackmannan is south-east of Alloa and south of Tillicoultry. ...

in September 1666. He translated to the

High Kirk of Glasgow Glasgow Cathedral ( gd, Cathair-eaglais Ghlaschu) is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in Glasgow, Scotland. It is the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland and the oldest building in Glasgow. The cathedral was the seat of the Archbishop ...

in April 1641. In August 1641 he was elected Professor of Divinity at

Aberdeen University , mottoeng = The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom , established = , type = Public research universityAncient university , endowment = £58.4 million (2021) , budget ...

but the General Assembly refused him permission to move and required him to stay in Glasgow. In November 1646 he deliberately moved to the less onerous position as minister of Falkirk.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; vol. 7; by Hew Scott In December 1662 he replaced

Robert Baillie Robert Baillie (30 April 16021662) was a Church of Scotland minister who became famous as an author and a propagandist for the Covenanters.

Principal of the University of Glasgow The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principa ...

. He died in 1683. His position as Principal was filled by Rev James Fall. Kersie Mains was owned by a John Wright in 1707 but passed to the

Earl of Dunmore Earl of Dunmore is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. History The title was created in 1686 for Lord Charles Murray, second son of John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl. He was made Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet (or Tullimet) and ...

around 1745. The house still stands. It was made a

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

in 1972.

Family

He married Margaret Brown and had two sons.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Edward 1683 deaths People from Falkirk Principals of the University of Glasgow 17th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland