Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Stuart, John (1743-1821)

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645160Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 55 — Stuart, John (1743-1821)1898George Stronach

STUART, JOHN (1743–1821), Gaelic scholar, son of James Stuart, minister of Killin, and Elizabeth Drummond, was born at Killin in 1743. He was licensed by the presbytery of Edinburgh on 27 Feb. 1771, was presented to the living of Arrochar by Sir James Colquhoun in October 1773, and was ordained on 12 May 1774. He was translated to Weem on 26 March 1776, and to Luss on 1 July 1777. He received the degree of D.D. from Glasgow University in 1795.

Stuart was an expert Gaelic scholar. His father had already translated the New Testament into Gaelic, and at the time of his death had begun a translation of the Old Testament. This work was continued by his son, and the complete translation was published at Edinburgh in 1767, under the auspices of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge; another edition was published in London in 1807. For his valuable services as translator he received from the lords of the treasury 1,000l. in 1820, and the thanks of the general assembly were conveyed to him from the chair on 28 May 1819. He was also a devoted student of natural history and botany. He died at Luss on 24 May 1821.

Dr. Stuart married, 24 July 1792, Susan, daughter of Rev. Dr. McIntyre, Glenorchy. She died on 7 July 1846, leaving a son, Joseph, minister of Kingarth, and a daughter.

Besides his Gaelic translation of the Scriptures, Dr. Stuart was the author of ‘The Account of the Parish of Luss’ in vol. xvii. of Sinclair's ‘Statistical Account of Scotland.’

[Scott's Fasti, pt. iii. pp. 341, 367, pt. iv. pp. 817, 825; Scots Magazine, 1821, ii. 94.]

G. S-h.