John Stirling (1654–1727) 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 Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...

in the 17th/18th centuries 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 1701 to 1727 and in 1707 attained the highest post in the Scottish church as

Moderator of the General Assembly The moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a Presbyterian or Reformed church. Kirk sessions and presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator. The Oxford Dictionary states th ...

Life

He was born in 1654 (baptised on 18 August) in the manse at

Kilbarchan Kilbarchan ( gd, Cill Bhearchain) is a village and civil parish in central Renfrewshire, in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The village's name means "cell (chapel) of St. Barchan". It is known for its former weaving industry. History ...

the son of Rev John Stirling and his wife Jean Maxwell. He was educated at the

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

. He was licensed to preach as a

minister by the Presbytery of Glasgow in February 1690. He was ordained as minister of

Inchinnan Inchinnan (Scottish Gaelic: ''Innis Fhionghain'') is a small village in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The village is located on the main A8 road between Renfrew and Greenock, just south east of the town of Erskine. History The name of Inchinnan villa ...

in May 1691. He translated to

Greenock Greenock (; sco, Greenock; gd, Grianaig, ) is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council areas of Scotland, council area in Scotland, United Kingdom and a former burgh of barony, burgh within the Counties of Scotland, historic ...

in September 1694. On 8 May 1701 he was elected

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 ...

in place of William Dunlop and began the role on 18 September. During his principalship he created seven new chairs, reorganised the Faculty of Arts and enlarged the Faculty of Divinity. He created the two new faculties of Law and Medicine to better parallel the subjects offered by other Scottish universities. In 1707 he was additionally elected

Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the ministers and elders of the Church of Scotland, minister or elder chosen to moderate (chair) the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week i ...

in succession to

William Wishart :''See also William Wishart (disambiguation)'' William Wishart (or Wischard) (died 28 May 1279) was a 13th-century Bishop of St. Andrews. He was postulated to the see of St. Andrews (''Cell Rígmonaid'' or ''Cill Rìmhinn'') while holding the po ...

. He died on 29 September 1727.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; vol. 7; by Hew Scott

Family

He married Elizabeth Stewart (d. 1738).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stirling, John 1654 births 1727 deaths Principals of the University of Glasgow Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland