Robert Walker (1716–1783) 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 Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...

minister and historian who served 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 t ...

in 1771. His views were strongly

Calvinist Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...

ic.

Life

He was born in Canongate manse, the son of Rev John Walker, minister of the

Canongate Kirk The Kirk of the Canongate, or Canongate Kirk, serves the Parish of Canongate in Edinburgh's Old Town, in Scotland. It is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. The parish includes the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament. It i ...

. He was educated at the High School in Edinburgh then studied 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 ...

. He left Edinburgh and moved to Dumfriesshire for some years and in April 1737 he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of

Kirkcudbright Kirkcudbright ( ; sco, Kirkcoubrie; gd, Cille Chùithbeirt) is a town, parish and a Royal Burgh from 1455 in Kirkcudbrightshire, of which it is traditionally the county town, within Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The town lies southwest of ...

, and ordained as minister of

Straiton Straiton is a village on the River Girvan in South Ayrshire in Scotland, mainly built in the 18th century, but with some recent housing. It was the main location for the film '' The Match,'' where two rival pubs played against each other in a ...

in September 1738. In November 1746 he translated back to Edinburgh as second charge of

South Leith Parish Church South Leith Parish Church, originally the Kirk of Our Lady, St Mary, is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. It is the principal church and congregation in Leith, in Edinburgh. Its kirkyard is the burial place for John Home (author of ''Do ...

in the harbour district. In October 1754 he translated to first charge of The High Kirk of St Giles, the country's most prestigious position. At St Giles his second charge was Rev

Hugh Blair Hugh Blair FRSE (7 April 1718 – 27 December 1800) was a Scottish minister of religion, author and rhetorician, considered one of the first great theorists of written discourse. As a minister of the Church of Scotland, and occupant of the ...

and they became close friends. Walker took the larger but poorer congregation, Blair took the smaller but richer congregation. In January 1757 (as widely instructed) he read the Assembly's condemnation of John Home's new play "Douglas" but then continued with a sermon looking broadly at theatrical productions, seeing theatre as having an important role in society. In 1770 a parallel even happened when Foote's "The Minor" was shown in Edinburgh to much concern. In 1771 he succeeded Rev

Alexander Carlyle Alexander Carlyle MA DD FRSE (26 January 172228 August 1805) was a Scottish church leader, and autobiographer. He served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1770/71. Life He was born on 26 January 1722 in the m ...

Inveresk Inveresk (Gaelic: ''Inbhir Easg'') is a village in East Lothian, Scotland situated to the south of Musselburgh. It has been designated a conservation area since 1969. It is situated on slightly elevated ground on the north bank of a loop o ...

as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland the highest position in the Scottish church. In 1774 he is listed as living at Castlehill on the upper Royal Mile in Edinburgh. The house stood on the south side "opposite the water reservoir". He was "seized with

apoplexy Apoplexy () is rupture of an internal organ and the accompanying symptoms. The term formerly referred to what is now called a stroke. Nowadays, health care professionals do not use the term, but instead specify the anatomic location of the bleedi ...

" in 1782 and was thereon in poor health, but recovered sufficiently to continue preaching. He died on 3 April 1783 and the funeral service was overseen by his friend Rev Dr

and Rev Dr John Erskine of

Greyfriars Kirk Greyfriars Kirk ( gd, Eaglais nam Manach Liath) is a parish church of the Church of Scotland, located in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is surrounded by Greyfriars Kirkyard. Greyfriars traces its origin to the south-west parish of Edin ...

. Robert Walker is buried in

Greyfriars Kirkyard Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located at the southern edge of the Old Town, adjacent to George Heriot's School. Burials have been taking place since the late 16th century, and a num ...

Family

In May 1747 he married Magdalen Dickson. He was uncle of Rev Robert Walker, "the skating minister" of

Publications

*We Have Nothing Which we did not Receive *Sermons on Practical Subjects

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Robert 1716 births 1783 deaths Clergy from Edinburgh Ministers of St Giles' Cathedral Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Burials at Greyfriars Kirkyard