John Jamieson
Encyclopedia
John Jamieson FRSE was a Scottish minister of religion
, lexicographer, philologist and antiquary.
The son of the Rev John Jamieson, Minister of the Associate Congregation, Duke Street, Glasgow, he was educated at Glasgow Grammar School.
He was educated at the University of Glasgow
, and subsequently attended classes at the University of Edinburgh
. After six years' theological study, Jamieson was licensed to preach in 1779 and became pastor
of an Anti-burgher
congregation in Forfar
, Angus
; and in 1797 he was called to the Anti-burgher church in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh
. The union of the Burgher and Anti-burgher sections of the Secession Church in 1820 was largely due to his exertions. He retired from the ministry in 1830, spending the rest of his life in Edinburgh.
Dr Jamieson had a strong literary bias and keen interest in antiquarian
research. His name stands at the head of a tolerably long list of works in Robert Watt
's Bibliotheca britannica; but by far his most important book is the laborious and erudite compilation, best described by its own title-page:
This appeared in 2 vols quarto, at Edinburgh in 1808, followed in 1825 by a Supplement, in 2 vols., quarto, in which he was assisted by scholars in all parts of the country. A revised edition by Longmuir and Donaldson was issued in 1879-1887. These volumes remained the reference work of choice regarding the Scots language until the publication of the Scottish National Dictionary
in 1931.
Jamieson was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
, of the American Antiquarian Society
and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
. In 1789, he published Sermons of the Heart, and around the same time authored a pamphlet on the African slave trade
entitled, The Sorrows of Slavery.
In 1781, Dr Jamieson married Charlotte, daughter of Robert Watson, Esq., of Easter Rhind, Perthshire
, and had seventeen children, of whom only two daughters and one son survived. His son, Robert Jameson, Esq., advocate, became a distinguished member of the Faculty of Advocates
.
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
, lexicographer, philologist and antiquary.
The son of the Rev John Jamieson, Minister of the Associate Congregation, Duke Street, Glasgow, he was educated at Glasgow Grammar School.
He was educated 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...
, and subsequently attended classes at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. After six years' theological study, Jamieson was licensed to preach in 1779 and became pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of an Anti-burgher
Anti-Burgher
The Anti-Burghers were opponents of the Burgher Oath on theological grounds.In 1733 the First Secession from the Church of Scotland resulted in the creation of the "Associate Presbytery". This church split in 1747 over the issue of the Burgher Oath, which required holders of public offices to...
congregation in Forfar
Forfar
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people in Angus, located in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland. Forfar is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1929, when the ancient name was reinstated, and...
, Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
; and in 1797 he was called to the Anti-burgher church in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The union of the Burgher and Anti-burgher sections of the Secession Church in 1820 was largely due to his exertions. He retired from the ministry in 1830, spending the rest of his life in Edinburgh.
Dr Jamieson had a strong literary bias and keen interest in antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
research. His name stands at the head of a tolerably long list of works in Robert Watt
Robert Watt (bibliographer)
Dr Robert Watt was a Scottish physician and bibliographer.-Early life:The son of a small farmer in Bonnyton near Stewarton in Ayrshire, Watt attended school from the age of six to twelve. After working as a ploughman, aged seventeen he went to learn cabinetmaking with his brother...
's Bibliotheca britannica; but by far his most important book is the laborious and erudite compilation, best described by its own title-page:
- An Etymological DictionaryEtymological dictionaryAn etymological dictionary discusses the etymology of the words listed. Often, large dictionaries, such as the OED and Webster's, will contain some etymological information, without aspiring to focus on etymology....
of the Scottish LanguageScots languageScots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
[i.e. Lowland Scots, not Scottish Gaelic] ; illustrating the words in their different significations by example from Ancient and Modern Writers; shewing their Affinity to those of other Languages, and especially the Northern; explaining many terms which though now obsolete in EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
were formerly common to both countries; and elucidating National Rites, Customs and Institutions and their Analogy to those of other nations; to which is prefixed a Dissertation on the Origin of the Scottish Language.
This appeared in 2 vols quarto, at Edinburgh in 1808, followed in 1825 by a Supplement, in 2 vols., quarto, in which he was assisted by scholars in all parts of the country. A revised edition by Longmuir and Donaldson was issued in 1879-1887. These volumes remained the reference work of choice regarding the Scots language until the publication of the Scottish National Dictionary
Scottish National Dictionary
The Scottish National Dictionary was produced by the Scottish National Dictionary Association from 1931 to 1976 and documents the Modern Scots language. The original editor, William Grant, was the driving force behind the collection of Scots vocabulary...
in 1931.
Jamieson was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
, of the American Antiquarian Society
American Antiquarian Society
The American Antiquarian Society , located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is both a learned society and national research library of pre-twentieth century American History and culture. Its main building, known also as Antiquarian Hall, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark...
and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body in Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh...
. In 1789, he published Sermons of the Heart, and around the same time authored a pamphlet on the African slave trade
African slave trade
Systems of servitude and slavery were common in many parts of Africa, as they were in much of the ancient world. In some African societies, the enslaved people were also indentured servants and fully integrated; in others, they were treated much worse...
entitled, The Sorrows of Slavery.
In 1781, Dr Jamieson married Charlotte, daughter of Robert Watson, Esq., of Easter Rhind, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, and had seventeen children, of whom only two daughters and one son survived. His son, Robert Jameson, Esq., advocate, became a distinguished member of the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
.