John Bethune FRS (1725–1774) was an 18th-century Scottish minister remembered as a philosopher.

Life

Bethune was born in Croy on 6 September 1725, the son of Margaret Rose and Farquhar Bethune. His uncle was Rev Daniel Bethune, also known as Am Beutanach Beag (1679–1754). From 1738 to 1742, he studied at Marischal College, Aberdeen going on to study divinity first at the University of St Andrews and then at the University of Edinburgh. As was then normal for ministers, whilst awaiting a post, he was private tutor to the children of the Carruthers of Holmains in Dumfriesshire. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of the Church of Scotland in Lochmaben in March 1750, and was ordained at

Rosskeen Rosskeen is a parish in Ross and Cromarty on the Cromarty Firth in northern Scotland, containing the settlements of Invergordon, Bridgend and Saltburn. It lies on the A9 between Inverness and Thurso. Notable Buildings *Newmore Farmhouse (1845) ...

in October 1754. In February 1773, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London (the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

did not exist at that time). His election was on the basis of his philosophical writings. He died in the

manse A manse () is a clergy house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and other Christian traditions. Ultimately derived from the Latin ''mansus'', "dwelling", from '' ...

at Rosskeen on the night of 14/15 April 1774.

Family

In December 1755, he married his cousin, Janet Bethune, daughter of Rev Daniel Bethune. They had three daughters, all of whom died young.

Publications

see *A Short View of the Human Faculties and Passions (1766) *Essays and Dissertations on Various Subjects Relating to Human Life and Happiness 2 vols. (1771)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bethune, John 1725 births 1774 deaths 18th-century ministers of the Church of Scotland 18th-century Scottish Presbyterian ministers Scottish philosophers Fellows of the Royal Society