Archibald Alison (Scottish author)
Encyclopedia
Archibald Alison FRS FRSE (1757–1839) was a Scottish episcopalian
priest and essayist.
of the Diocese of Edinburgh
, himself a younger son of an Alison of Newhall, near Coupar Angus
.
After studying at the University of Glasgow
, where he established his lifelong friendship with Dugald Stewart
, and at Balliol College, Oxford
, he took orders in the Church of England
, and was appointed in 1778 to the curacy of Brancepeth
, near Durham
. In 1784 he married Dorothea, youngest daughter of Professor Gregory
of Edinburgh.
, where he held in succession the livings of High Ercall
, Roddington and Kenley
. In 1800 he moved back to Edinburgh, having been appointed senior incumbent of St Paul's Chapel in the Cowgate
. For thirty-four years he filled this position with much ability; his sermons were characterised by quiet beauty of thought and grace of composition. His preaching attracted so many hearers that a new and larger church was built for him.
His last years were spent at Colinton
near Edinburgh, where he died on 17 May, 1839. He was interred at St John's Episcopal Churchyard in Edinburgh.
(1790–1859), was a distinguished Edinburgh medical professor. His younger son was the historian Sir Archibald Alison, 1st Baronet
.
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
priest and essayist.
Early life
He was born at Edinburgh on 13 November, 1757, to Patrick Alison, the provostProvost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of the Diocese of Edinburgh
Diocese of Edinburgh
The Diocese of Edinburgh is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. It covers the City of Edinburgh, the Lothians, the Borders and Falkirk. The diocesan centre is St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh...
, himself a younger son of an Alison of Newhall, near Coupar Angus
Coupar Angus
Coupar Angus is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, situated eight kilometres south of Blairgowrie.The name Coupar Angus serves to differentiate the town from Cupar, Fife...
.
After studying at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, where he established his lifelong friendship with Dugald Stewart
Dugald Stewart
Dugald Stewart was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher and mathematician. His father, Matthew Stewart , was professor of mathematics in the University of Edinburgh .-Life and works:...
, and at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, he took orders in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, and was appointed in 1778 to the curacy of Brancepeth
Brancepeth
Brancepeth is a village and civil parish in County Durham, in England. It is situated about from Durham on the A690 road between Durham and Weardale. Brancepeth Castle was until 1570 the fortress of the Neville Earls of Westmorland. The castle was extensively modified and rebuilt in the 19th century...
, near Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. In 1784 he married Dorothea, youngest daughter of Professor Gregory
John Gregory (moralist)
John Gregory , a.k.a. John Gregorie, was an eighteenth-century Scottish physician, medical writer and moralist....
of Edinburgh.
Career
The next twenty years of his life were spent in ShropshireShropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, where he held in succession the livings of High Ercall
High Ercall
High Ercall, also known in the past as Ercall Magna, is a village in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. The civil parish is still called Ercall Magna, and had a total population of 1,679 at the 2001 census. The parish also includes the villages of...
, Roddington and Kenley
Kenley, Shropshire
Kenley is a small village and parish in the English county of Shropshire. It is located in remote countryside, atop a ridge at around above sea level, with the larger villages of Acton Burnell and Harley being a few miles away....
. In 1800 he moved back to Edinburgh, having been appointed senior incumbent of St Paul's Chapel in the Cowgate
Cowgate
The Cowgate is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about 5 minutes' walk from Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street's name is derived from the fact that cows were herded down it for Edinburgh's market days in previous centuries .The street is part of the lower...
. For thirty-four years he filled this position with much ability; his sermons were characterised by quiet beauty of thought and grace of composition. His preaching attracted so many hearers that a new and larger church was built for him.
His last years were spent at Colinton
Colinton
Colinton is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland situated 6 kilometres south west of the city centre. It is bordered by Dreghorn to the south and Craiglockhart to the north-east. To the north-west it extends to Lanark Road and to the south-west to the City Bypass...
near Edinburgh, where he died on 17 May, 1839. He was interred at St John's Episcopal Churchyard in Edinburgh.
Works
Alison published, besides a Life of Lord Woodhouselee, a volume of sermons, which passed through several editions, and a work entitled Essays on the Nature and Principles of Taste (1790), based on the principle of "association". His elder son, Dr William Pulteney AlisonWilliam Pulteney Alison
William Pulteney Alison FRSE FRCPE FSA was a Scottish physician, social reformer and philanthropist. He was a distinguished professor of medicine at Edinburgh University...
(1790–1859), was a distinguished Edinburgh medical professor. His younger son was the historian Sir Archibald Alison, 1st Baronet
Sir Archibald Alison, 1st Baronet
Sir Archibald Alison, 1st Baronet FRSE was a Scottish advocate and historian. He held several prominent legal appointments. He was the younger son of the Episcopalian cleric and author Archibald Alison...
.