Thomas Tullideph (sometimes Tulliedeph or Tullidelph) (1700–1777) was principal of St Leonards College at the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

and

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 1742. The odd surname is said to mean “hill of the oxen” and first appears as John de Tolidef in

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 ...

in the early 14th century.

Robert Fergusson Robert Fergusson (5 September 1750 – 16 October 1774) was a Scottish poet. After formal education at the University of St Andrews, Fergusson led a bohemian life in Edinburgh, the city of his birth, then at the height of intellectual and c ...

described him as “fearsome” and nicknamed him Pauly Tam.

Life

He was born in 1700 in Dunbarney in

Perthshire Perthshire (locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, ...

, one of seven children of Katrine Rankin and John Tullideph. He studied 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 ...

then briefly worked as a merchant in that city before studying divinity and being created minister of Dron church in 1727. In 1730 he replaced Rev James Dickson as minister of

Markinch Markinch (, (Scottish Gaelic: Marc Innis) is both a village and a parish in the heart of Fife, Scotland. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the village has a population of 2,420. The civil parish had a population of 16,530 (in 2011).Cens ...

Church in

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 ...

. He resigned in 1734 to take up his position as a professor of

Biblical criticism Biblical criticism is the use of critical analysis to understand and explain the Bible. During the eighteenth century, when it began as ''historical-biblical criticism,'' it was based on two distinguishing characteristics: (1) the concern to ...

at the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

, being replaced in Markinch by Rev George Preston. He was later raised from professor to principal and served as moderator in 1742, during this period. In 1765 the famous Scots poet

joined his class. Tullideph wished to expel him in March 1768 for his part in a “student riot” but was dissuaded by Prof Wilkie as Fergusson's graduation was imminent (May 1768). He died on 14 November 1777 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 ...

. His position as principal was filled by Mr Robert Watson.

Family

On 31 October 1722 he married Alison Richardson 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 ...

. They had ten children. His eldest daughter, Margaret Tullideph (died 1786) married David Thomson (1714–1779) in 1745.

References

1700 births 1777 deaths 18th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Academics of the University of St Andrews Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland {{Scotland-reli-bio-stub