Thomas Buchanan (c. 1520–1599) 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

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 ...

in 1588.

Life

He was the son of Thomas Buchanan of Drummakill and his wife, Giles Cunningham. His paternal uncle was the senior Scottish churchman and historian,

George Buchanan George Buchanan ( gd, Seòras Bochanan; February 1506 – 28 September 1582) was a Scottish historian and humanist scholar. According to historian Keith Brown, Buchanan was "the most profound intellectual sixteenth century Scotland produced." ...

. He studied at St Salvator's College in

St Andrews St Andrews ( la, S. Andrea(s); sco, Saunt Aundraes; gd, Cill Rìmhinn) is a town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, southeast of Dundee and northeast of Edinburgh. St Andrews had a recorded population of 16,800 , making it Fife's fou ...

and became a "regent" (the equivalent of Fellow) at the college around 1538. He probably spent many years as a teacher before becoming joint Rector of the High School 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 ...

in February 1569.Fasti Ecclesiastae Scoticana by Hew Scott At this time the school was housed in St Mary's in the Fields on the outskirts of the town.

King James VI James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...

formally inducted him in the role in the Spring of 1569. In 1571 he moved to be Master of the Grammar School in

Stirling Stirling (; sco, Stirlin; gd, Sruighlea ) is a city in central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the royal citadel, the medieval old town with its me ...

. In 1573 he described as having been a member of the "Royal Household" for many years, and therefore must be presumed to have also been a courtier. In August 1578 King James presented him as Provost of Kirkheuch, a secular definition linked to the parish of

Ceres Ceres most commonly refers to: * Ceres (dwarf planet), the largest asteroid * Ceres (mythology), the Roman goddess of agriculture Ceres may also refer to: Places Brazil * Ceres, Goiás, Brazil * Ceres Microregion, in north-central Goiás ...

Fife Fife (, ; gd, Fìobha, ; sco, Fife) is a council area, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries with Perth and Kinross (i ...

and was given £200 from the King for taking the role. The role also encompassed being parish minister of Ceres. In October 1582 he was nominated by the General Assembly to be one of the Masters of New College, St Andrews (now known as

St Mary's College, St Andrews (In the Beginning was the Word) , established = , type = College , endowment = , staff = , faculty = , rector = , chancellor = , principal = Oliver D. Crisp , free_label = Teaching staff , free = 20 , ...

. This college specialised in teaching Divinity. This is the first clear indication that Buchanan had a deep knowledge of

Theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

.However, Buchanan declined this post. In 1587 the General Assembly made him "Commissioner for Fife". In 1588 he succeeded Rev

Robert Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventuall ...

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 ...

the highest position in the Scottish church. He attended 26 out of the 31 General Assemblies occurring during his ministry. In March 1589 the Privy Council made him Commissioner for the Preservation of the True Religion in Fife. In 1598 he was on the shortlist of three ministers who would represent the Church of Scotland as a Commissioner of the Kirk in the

Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...

in Parliament Hall in

. He died on 12 April 1599 following a fall from his horse. He was aged around 79. His position at Ceres was filled by his nephew Robert Buchanan.

Family

He married Elspeth Traill (d. 1595) daughter of John Traill the younger of Magask, widow of Robert Hamilton, Principal of New College, St Andrews and Moderator in 1572. Their daughter married Thomas Philip son of Rev Henry Philip, minister of

Creich Creich ( gd, Craoich, ) is a substantial parish on the north side of the Dornoch Firth the largest settlement being Bonar Bridge. It lies in Sutherland, Scotland. There is a church (now in ruins) and graveyard for the Parish of Creich. Creich M ...

. Around 1597 he married Eupham Hay who outlived him.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchanan, Thomas 1520 births Year of birth uncertain 1599 deaths Alumni of the University of St Andrews People from Fife Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Deaths by horse-riding accident Academics of the University of St Andrews