John Howie (14 November 1735 – 5 January 1793) was a Scottish biographer. His best known work was ''Biographia Scoticana'', first published in 1775, which is often called ''The Scots Worthies''. It deals with Christians and particularly Presbyterians especially in their strivings with church and civil authorities.

Life

John Howie was an

East Renfrewshire East Renfrewshire ( sco, Aest Renfrewshire; gd, Siorrachd Rinn Friù an Ear) is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. Until 1975, it formed part of the county of Renfrewshire for local government purposes along with the modern council areas of ...

farmer from Lochgoin, who claimed descent from an

Albigensian Catharism (; from the grc, καθαροί, katharoi, "the pure ones") was a Christian dualist or Gnostic movement between the 12th and 14th centuries which thrived in Southern Europe, particularly in northern Italy and southern France. Follo ...

refugee. The author was the 28th descendant in a direct line, all of whom were called John. Although he was a plain unlettered peasant, cultivating the same farm which his ancestors had occupied for ages, a natural predilection for literary pursuits induced him to take up the task of recording the lives of the martyrs and confessors of Scotland. His family home at Lochgoin Farm was a noted refuge for

Covenanter Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from ''Covenan ...

s, and was subject to several searches by government soldiers. The farmhouse was rebuilt in the 18th century, with the date 1187 on a lintel marking when the Howies first settled there. Several relics were kept in what has become a small museum, and in 1896 a stone

obelisk An obelisk (; from grc, ὀβελίσκος ; diminutive of ''obelos'', " spit, nail, pointed pillar") is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape or pyramidion at the top. Originally constructed by Anc ...

was erected nearby as a monument "in memory of John Howie, author of the ''Scots Worthies''". It now lies within the area of

Whitelee Wind Farm Whitelee Wind Farm is a windfarm on the Eaglesham moor in Scotland. The main visitor centre is located in East Renfrewshire, but the majority of turbines are located in East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. It is the largest on-shore wind farm in ...

and has track access from the visitor centre. Lochgoin Monument - geograph

Works

Howie wrote ''Lives'' of the Protestant worthies of

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

from Patrick Hamilton, the first martyr, under the title of ''Biographia Scoticana'', first published in 1775. It became a classic of Scottish Church History and was often called ''The Scots Worthies''. He revised and enlarged the work, 1781–5, and this edition was reissued, with notes by William McGavin, in 1827. In 1870 the Rev. William Henderson Carslaw revised Howie's text and published it, with illustrations and notes, and a short biographical introduction; and in 1876 a further illustrated edition appeared, with biographical notice compiled from statements made by Howie's relatives, and an introductory essay by Dr. Robert Buchanan. ''A Collection of Lectures and Sermons by Covenanting Clergymen'' was issued by Howie in 1779, with an introduction by himself. He edited in 1780 Michael Shields's ''Faithful Contendings Display'd'', an account 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 Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...

between 1681 and 1691. He also wrote on the Lord's Supper, patronage, and other topics, and prefaced and annotated other religious works.

The ''Lives'' in ''Biographia Scoticana'' (2nd edition)

The old Lochgoin Covenanters Museum, East Ayrshire, Scotland

The list below reflects the chapter order in the book. For an alphabetical list see the "Scots Worthies" template at the foot of the page. * Patrick Hamilton *

George Wishart George Wishart (also Wisehart; c. 15131 March 1546) was a Scottish Protestant Reformer and one of the early Protestant martyrs burned at the stake as a heretic. George Wishart was the son of James and brother of Sir John of Pitarrow, ...

* Walter Mill *

James Stuart, Earl of Moray James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (c. 1531 – 23 January 1570) was a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland. A supporter of his half-sister Mary, Queen of Scots, he was the regent of Scotland for his ...

John Knox John Knox ( gd, Iain Cnocc) (born – 24 November 1572) was a Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He was the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Born in Giffordgat ...

George Buchanan George Buchanan ( gd, Seòras Bochanan; February 1506 – 28 September 1582) was a Scottish historian and humanist scholar. According to historian Keith Brown, Buchanan was "the most profound intellectual sixteenth century Scotland produced." ...

Robert Rollock Robert Rollock (c. 15558 or 9 February 1599) was Scottish academic and minister in the Church of Scotland, and the first regent and first principal of the University of Edinburgh. Born into a noble family, he distinguished himself during ...

* John Craig * David Black * John Davidson *

William Row William Row (1563–1634) was a Scottish presbyterian divine. Early life and education William Row was born in 1563. He was second son of John Row (reformer), John Row, the reformer and minister of Perth. His mother was Margaret, daughter of ...

Andrew Melville Andrew Melville (1 August 1545 – 1622) was a Scottish scholar, theologian, poet and religious reformer. His fame encouraged scholars from the European continent to study at Glasgow and St. Andrews. He was born at Baldovie, on 1 August 154 ...

* Patrick Simpson * Andrew Duncan * John Scrimgeour * John Welch * Robert Boyd *

Robert Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventuall ...

* Josias Welch * John Gordon, Viscount Kenmuir * Robert Cunningham * Alexander Henderson * George Gillespie * John M'Clellan *

David Calderwood David Calderwood (157529 October 1650) was a Church of Scotland minister and historian. Calderwood was banished for his nonconformity. He found a home in the Low Countries, where he wrote his great work, the Altare Damascenum. It was a serious ...

Hugh Binning Hugh Binning (1627–1653) was a Scotland, Scottish philosopher and Theology, theologian. He was born in Scotland during the reign of Charles I of England, Charles I and was ordained in the (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland. He died in 1653, du ...

* Andrew Gray * James Durham *

Samuel Rutherford Samuel Rutherford (also Rutherfurd or Rutherfoord; – 29 March 1661) was a Scottish Presbyterian pastor and theologian who wrote widely read letters, sermons, devotional and scholastic works. As a political theorist, he is known for "L ...

* Archibald Campbell, Marquis of Argyle * James Guthrie * John Campbell, Earl of Loudon *

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.

* David Dickson * Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston * James Wood * William Guthrie * Hugh Mackail * John Nevay * John Livingston * John Semple * James Mitchell * William Gordon of Earlston *

John Kid John Kid was an outlawed minister of the Covenant. He was seized by Claverhouse among the insurgents after the affair at Drumclog. He was released by the insurgents but recaptured in a bog a few miles from Bothwell Bridge with a sword in his ...

* John King *

John Brown of Wamphray John Brown, of Wamphray, church leader, was probably born at Kirkcudbright; he graduated at the university of Edinburgh 24 July 1630. He was probably not settled till 1655, although he comes first into notice in some highly complimentary refere ...

* Henry Hall of Haughhead * Richard Cameron * David Hackston of Rathillet *

Robert Ker of Kersland Robert Ker (the younger) known as Robert Ker of Kersland was a Covenanter. He sympathised with the insurgents who fought at Rullion Green and consequently was declared a rebel and his lands became forfeit. He escaped to Holland but following his ...

Donald Cargill Donald Cargill (1619 – 27 July 1681) was a Scottish Covenanter who worked to uphold the principles of the National Covenant of 1638 and Solemn League and Covenant of 1643 to establish and defend Presbyterianism. He was born around 1619, an ...

Robert Garnock Robert Garnock (c. 1660 – 1681) was a Scottish covenanter. He was baptised by James Guthrie (minister), James Guthrie and like him was hanged in Edinburgh although at a different time and place; Guthrie was executed about 20 years before Garn ...

* Robert M'Ward * John Paton * John Nisbet of Hardhill *

Alexander Peden Alexander Peden (162626 January 1686), also known as "Prophet Peden", was one of the leading figures in the Covenanter movement in Scotland. Life Peden was born at Auchincloich Farm near Sorn, Ayrshire, about 1626, and was educated at the U ...

* John Blackadder * James Renwick * Alexander Moncrieff * Angus MacBean *

Thomas Hog Rev Thomas Hog of Kiltearn (1628–1692) was a controversial 17th century Scottish minister. Early life He was born at Tain, Ross-shire, in the beginning of 1628 to "honest parents- native highlanders somewhat above the vulgar rank". He ...

* Robert Fleming *

Alexander Shields Alexander Shields or Sheilds or Sheills (January 1661 – 1700) was a Scottish, Presbyterian, nonconformist minister, activist, and author. He was imprisoned in London, in Edinburgh and on the Bass Rock for holding private worship services. Aft ...

* John Dickson * Sir Robert Hamilton of Preston *

William Veitch William Veitch LL.D. (1794–1885) was a Scottish classical scholar. Life He was born in Spittal-on-Rule in Roxburghshire, his family being one of the three main farming families in the area. He attended school in Jedburgh then went to Edinburg ...

John Balfour of Kinloch John Balfour of Kinloch was the principal actor in the assassination of James Sharp (archbishop), Archbishop Sharp in 1679. For this crime his estate was forfeited and a large reward offered for his capture. He fought at Battle of Drumclog, D ...

* Robert Traill, father * Robert Traill, and son

References

Citations

Sources

* * Attribution * *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Howie, John 1735 births 1793 deaths Scottish biographers People from East Renfrewshire Scottish farmers