William Fettes Pitcairn (1804–1891) was a Scottish theological author.

Life

He was born 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 ...

on 14 October 1803 the son of Alexander Pitcairn (1746–1819), a wealthy merchant, by his second wife, Jane Trotter. He was first cousin to

Robert Pitcairn Robert Pitcairn (May 6, 1836 – July 25, 1909) was a Scottish-American railroad executive who headed the Pittsburgh Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the late 19th century. He was the brother of the PPG Industries, Pittsburgh Plate Glass ...

. The family lived at 4 Forth Street, then a newly built Georgian townhouse in the eastern part of

Edinburgh's New Town The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It was built in stages between 1767 and around 1850, and retains much of its original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture. Its best known street is Princes Street ...

(still existing but somewhat altered). He appears to have trained as a lawyer. He lived much of his life with his parents but by 1860 is living independently at 19 Forth Street, a few doors from his family home. He died on 25 September 1891 at his home 30 York Place in

He is buried in St Cuthbert's Churchyard at the west end of

Princes Street Princes Street ( gd, Sràid nam Prionnsan) is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1.2 km (three ...

. He lies on a main dividing wall within the churchyard, to the north-west of the church, with his grandfather Alexander Pitcairn.

Publications

*''Selection of Homilies'' (1849) *''Pastoral Letter, Easter'' (various years) *''The Passion and Resurrection of the Lord'' (1867) *''The Catholic Apostolic Church'' (1874)

References

1804 births 1891 deaths Scottish non-fiction writers Scottish Christian theologians Writers from Edinburgh {{Christian-theologian-stub