Robert Horne Stevenson (27 October 1812 – 15 November 1886) was a Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1871/2.

Life

Stevenson was born on 27 October 1812 at Netherinch, Campsie, son of Margaret Horne, daughter of Robert Horne of Braziets, and her husband John Stevenson of Gartclash, a farmer. Robert was educated at Campsie School and the universities of

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 ...

and

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

. He was licensed by Presbytery of

Dumbarton Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990. Dumbarton was the ca ...

on 23 October 1832, and was tutor to A. J. Dennistoun-Brown of

Balloch, West Dunbartonshire Balloch (; Scots pronunciation: ; Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic: ''Am Bealach'') is a village in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, at the foot of Loch Lomond. Etymology Balloch comes from either the Gaelic word ''baile'' which means village or hamlet, ...

, with whom he travelled extensively on the continent of Europe.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; by Hew Scott He served as missionary in the Second Charge,

Kilmarnock Kilmarnock (, sco, Kilmaurnock; gd, Cill Mheàrnaig (IPA: ʰʲɪʎˈveaːɾnəkʲ, "Marnock's church") is a large town and former burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland and is the administrative centre of East Ayrshire, East Ayrshire Council. ...

, and was assistant at

Crieff Crieff (; gd, Craoibh, meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins the A823 to Dunfermline. Crieff has become ...

from 1839, being ordained there 6 May 1840. He was clerk to the Presbytery of

Auchterarder Auchterarder (; gd, Uachdar Àrdair, meaning Upper Highland) is a small town located north of the Ochil Hills in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, and home to the Gleneagles Hotel. The High Street of Auchterarder gave the town its popular name of "Th ...

from April 1843. He moved to St George's Church on

Charlotte Square 300px, Robert Adam's palace-fronted north side Charlotte Square is a garden square in Edinburgh, Scotland, part of the New Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The square is located at the west end of George Street and was intended ...

in Edunburgh on 28 September 1843, on the departure of

Robert Smith Candlish Robert Smith Candlish (23 March 1806 – 19 October 1873) was a Scottish minister who was a leading figure in the Disruption of 1843. He served for many years in both St. George's Church and St George's Free Church on Charlotte Square in Edinb ...

after the

Disruption of 1843 The Disruption of 1843, also known as the Great Disruption, was a schism in 1843 in which 450 evangelical ministers broke away from the Church of Scotland to form the Free Church of Scotland. The main conflict was over whether the Church of S ...

, Candlish leaving to establish Free St George's. His first Edinburgh home was 22 Walker Street in the West End.Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1845 He was

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 1871, and awarded an honorary

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 ...

(DD) by the University of Edinburgh in the same year. He resigned in June 1879 and his position at St George's was filled by Rev Archibald Scott. He died on 15 November 1886 and is buried near the centre of the northern 19th-century extension of

Dean Cemetery The Dean Cemetery is a historically important Victorian cemetery north of the Dean Village, west of Edinburgh city centre, in Scotland. It lies between Queensferry Road and the Water of Leith, bounded on its east side by Dean Path and on ...

in western

. He is buried with his wife and his son-in-law, the artist Alexander Garden Sinclair ARSA (1859–1930).

Family

He married Frances Cadell, daughter and coheiress of

Robert Cadell Robert Cadell (16 December 1788 – 20 January 1849) was a bookseller and publisher closely associated with Sir Walter Scott. Life He was born at Cockenzie, East Lothian, Scotland, the fifth son of John Cadell, a Laird of Cockenzie, and Marie ...

Ratho Ratho ( gd, Ràthach) is a village in the Rural West Edinburgh area of Edinburgh, Scotland. Its population at the 2011 census was 1,634 based on the 2010 definition of the locality. It was formerly in the old county of Midlothian. Ratho Statio ...

, on 26 January 1853. Their children were- *

Anne Frances Stevenson Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

(b. 6 June 1854); *John (Robert) Horne Stevenson (b. 2 July 1855), Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in England, M.A., advocate,

Unicorn Pursuivant Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a current Scottish pursuivant of arms in Ordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon. The title was created after 1381, and derived from the unicorn. One of these beasts is used as a supporter for the r ...

from 1902 to 1925; *Robert Cadell Stevenson (b. 10 April 1859), member of the

London Stock Exchange London Stock Exchange (LSE) is a stock exchange in the City of London, England, United Kingdom. , the total market value of all companies trading on LSE was £3.9 trillion. Its current premises are situated in Paternoster Square close to St Pau ...

; *William Black Stevenson, (b. 10 May 1862), M.A., minister of

Athelstaneford Athelstaneford () is a village in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies almost 6 kilometres (3.5 mi) north-east of the market town of Haddington and about 28 kilometres (17 mi) east of Edinburgh. Battle of Athelstaneford According to popul ...

, and St Columba's, Edinburgh; *

Louisa Hope Stevenson Louisa Hope Sinclair (née Stevenson; 21 March 1864-13 Oct 1950) was an early female conservationist. Life Stevenson was born on 21 March 1864, the fifth of six children of the Rev Dr Robert Horne Stevenson and his wife Frances Cadell, daugh ...

, (b. 21 March 1864); and *Henry James Stevenson, (b. 12 July 1867), M.A. W.S., secretary of the

North British and Mercantile Insurance The North British and Mercantile Insurance Company was a British-based company founded in 1809 in Edinburgh and absorbed as a subsidiary of Commercial Union in 1959. The company was also known as the North British Insurance Company, North British F ...

Co.

Publications

His publications include "Several Funeral Sermons" and a "Farewell Letter to the Congregation of St George’s" (Edinburgh, 1879).

References

Sources

Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae ''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation'' is a title given to books containing lists of ministers from the Church of Scotland. The original volumes covered all ministers of the Estab ...

, Volume I, by the Rev. Hew Scott, D.D., 1915 {{DEFAULTSORT:Stevenson, Robert Horne 1812 births 1886 deaths Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland