John Caird FRSE  was a theologian

Theology

Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...

, born at Greenock

Greenock

Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...

 and educated at Greenock Academy

Greenock Academy

The Greenock Academy was a non-denominational, mixed comprehensive school in the west end of Greenock, Scotland.The Greenock Academy and Gourock High School merged into a new school in the Bayhill area of Gourock...

 and Glasgow University (MA 1845). He entered the Church of Scotland

Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....

, of which he became one of the most eloquent preachers.

After being a minister at Newton-on-Ayr, at Lady Yester's Church, Edinburgh (1847-9), and at Errol, Perthshire (1849-57), he was transferred to Park Church, Glasgow (1857-62), becoming in 1862 Professor of Divinity

Professor of Divinity, Glasgow

Professor of Divinity is an academic position at the University of Glasgow.Although divinity was taught from the foundations of the university in 1451, it was in 1577, as part of James VI's Nova Erectio, that a Chair was established, to be held by the Principal of the University of Glasgow...

 at the University (1862-73), and in 1873 Principal

Principal of the University of Glasgow

The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principal is appointed by the University Court and is...

 (1873-98).

A sermon on Religion in Common Life, preached before Queen Victoria, made him known throughout the Protestant world. He wrote an Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (1880), and a vol. on Spinoza (1888).

Caird delivered the 1892-1896 Gifford Lectures

Gifford Lectures

The Gifford Lectures were established by the will of Adam Lord Gifford . They were established to "promote and diffuse the study of Natural Theology in the widest sense of the term — in other words, the knowledge of God." The term natural theology as used by Gifford means theology supported...

 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...

, entitled The Fundamental Ideas of Christianity.

His father was John Caird, the proprietor of Caird & Company

Caird & Company

Caird & Company was a Scottish shipbuilding and engineering firm based in Greenock. The company was established in 1828 by John Caird when he received an order to re-engine Clyde paddle-tugs....

. His brother was the philosopher, Edward Caird

Edward Caird

Edward Caird FRSE was a Scottish philosopher and younger brother of the theologian John Caird.He was the son of engineer John Caird, the proprietor of Caird & Company,...

.

External links

• Works by Caird, on the Internet Archive
  Internet Archive
  The Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
  
  
• Biography and Summary of Gifford Lectures by Dr Brannon Hancock