Robert Pollock (1709–1759) was a

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 ...

minister who served as principal of

Marischal College Marischal College ( ) is a large granite building on Broad Street in the centre of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland, and since 2011 has acted as the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council. However, the building was constructed for and is on long- ...

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

from 1757 to 1759.

Life

He was born on 4 December 1707 in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. He was educated at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

graduating with an MA in May 1725. He trained as a

minister he was licensed by the Presbytery of Edinburgh in November 1732 but took several years to find a patron. He was ordained as minister of

Duddingston Kirk Duddingston Kirk is a Parish Church in the Church of Scotland, located adjacent to Holyrood Park in Duddingston Village, on the east side of the City of Edinburgh. Regular services are held at the kirk, conducted by the minister, Rev Dr James ...

just south of Edinburgh, in March 1744.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; vol. 1, by Hew Scott In July 1745 he translated to

Greyfriars Church, Aberdeen Greyfriars Church is a Category A Listed building in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was designed by the architect Alexander Marshall Mackenzie and built in 1903. It is situated on Broad Street and forms the south-east corner of Marischal College, also d ...

.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; vol. 7; by Hew Scott In August of the same year he took on the additional role of Professor of Divinity at

. In May 1740 he took on the additional role as

Almoner An almoner (} ' (alms), via the popular Latin '. History Christians have historically been encouraged to donate one-tenth of their income as a tithe to their church and additional offerings as needed for the poor. The first deacons, mentioned ...

to the King (George II). In 1753 he was awarded a

Doctor of Divinity A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...

. In April 1757 he succeeded Rev Dr Thomas Blackwell as Principal of Marishal College. He died in Aberdeen on 18 May 1759. His position as principal was filled by Rev George Campbell.

Family

In 1747 he married Elizabeth Robertson, daughter of

Alexander Robertson of Glasgowego Alexander Robertson of Glasgowego (1703–1775) was an Aberdeen merchant who was three times Provost of Aberdeen. Life Little is known of his life. He was the son of James Robertson, a merchant and Baillie in Aberdeen. In later records (in ...

Provost of Aberdeen The Lord Provost of Aberdeen is the convener of the Aberdeen City local authority in Scotland. They are elected by the city council and serve not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city. They are equivalent in m ...

. They had several children: *Alexander Pollock (b. 1748) surgeon in Aberdeen *Jane Pollock (1749-1840) married Alexander Duthie, advocate in Aberdeen *James 1751-1752 *Margaret Pollock (1752-1831) married Alexander Dauney, advocate in Aberdeen *Walter (b.1753) - Elizabeth died at or soon after this birthAberdeenshire Epitaphs and Inscriptions 1901

Artistic recognition

Joint portraits of Pollock and his wife (artist unknown) are held by the

University of Aberdeen The University of Aberdeen ( sco, University o' 'Aiberdeen; abbreviated as ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; gd, Oilthigh Obar Dheathain) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Sc ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pollock, Robert 1709 births 1759 deaths People from Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Academics of the University of Aberdeen 18th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland