John Ker (c.1715–1781) was a Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1776.

Life

He was born in the manse in Roxburghshire around 1715. He studied Divinity 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 ...

and was licensed by the Presbytery of Kelso in November 1739.Fasti Ecclesiastae Scoticana by Hew Scott He was ordained as minister of

Kettins Kettins is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland about northeast of Perth and northwest of Dundee. It is from Coupar Angus, north of the A923 road. Notable people * Robert Trail minister of the parish 1746 to 1753 * John Ker minister ...

in February 1744. In March 1745 he translated to

Forfar Forfar ( sco, Farfar, gd, Baile Fharfair) is the county town of Angus, Scotland and the administrative centre for Angus Council, with a new multi-million pound office complex located on the outskirts of the town. As of 2021, the town has a pop ...

Parish Church covering the parishes of Forfar and Restenneth. He was minister there for 36 years. In 1761

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 ...

awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity. The university made him a Doctor of Medicine in the same year. In 1776 he succeeded the David Shaw as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland the highest position in the Scottish Church. He was succeeded in turn by James Brown. He died at Forfar manse on 15 December 1781.

Family

In 1746 he married Agnes Burton.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ker, John 1781 deaths Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Year of birth uncertain