Skip to main content

Lee, John, 1779-1859 (Principal of the University of Edinburgh)

 Person

Staff Only

Biography

John Lee was born at Torwoodlee Mains, near Stow, in Midlothian, on 22 November 1779. He began studies at the Unievrsity of Edinburgh in 1794 taking full courses in Arts, Medicine and Divinity and graduated with the degree of MD in 1801. His thesis was entitled "De viribus animi in corpus agentibus". After a brief period with the army hospital service, he began to study law. He became licensed as a preacher and was a pastor in London for a brief period before being ordained in 1808 as a Minister in Peebles.

In 1812, Lee was appointed Professor of Church History at St. Mary's College, St. Andrews, and became Rector of the College. In 1820, he was appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy at King's College, Aberdeen. A year later he resigned both Professorships, and after he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity by St. Andrews University he became Minister of Canongate Church in Edinburgh, and then Minister of Lady Yester's Church. In 1827, Lee was made principal clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and in 1832 he unsuccessfully contested the Moderatorship of the Assembly with Dr. Thomas Chalmers. In 1834, he became Minister of the Old Kirk of St. Giles in Edinburgh, and in 1837 he was Principal of the United College at St. Andrews.

Lee was appointed Principal of Edinburgh University in 1840 and by 1843 he held the office along with the Chair of Divinity in succession to Chalmers. He was appointed Moderator of the General Assembly in 1844. This occurred just after the Disruption within the Church in 1843, when Chalmers demitted office to lead the Free Church of Scotland.

Lee's publications include Memorial for the bible societies in Scotland. Remarks on the complaint of His Majesty's printers against the Marquis of Huntly and others (1824), Dr. Lee's refutation of the charges brought against him by the Rev. Dr. Chalmers and others ... (1837), Dr. Lee's additional refutation of the charges brought against him by the Rev. Dr. Chalmers and others (1837), Lectures on the history of the Church of Scotland, from the reformation to the revolution settlement (1860), and The University of Edinburgh from its foundation in 1583 to the year 1839: a historical sketch (1884).

Lee served on the Royal Commission on the Universities and Colleges of Scotland, 1826, the recommendations of which were incorporated in an Act of 1858. Among its provisions was that the office of Principal would be no longer considered an ecclesiastical office attached to the Church of Scotland but would be open lay persons and members of any Church. In 1830, Lee had been appointed as a Chaplain in ordinary to the King, and in 1840 he was Dean of the Chapel Royal in Stirling.

Dr. John Lee died in Edinburgh University on 2 May 1859.

The biographical history was compiled by by Graeme D Eddie using the following material: (1) Lee, Sydney (ed.). Dictionary of national biography. Vol.11. Kennett-Lluelyn. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1909. (2) Rice, D. Talbot (comp.). The university portraits. pp.126-128. Edinburgh: The University Press, 1957. (3) Grant, Alexander. The story of the University of Edinburgh during its first three hundred years. Vol.2. pp.271-274. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1884.

Topics

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Autograph Letter Signed from Thomas Babington Macaulay to Principal John Lee, 18 August 1845

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1848/25-0060/5
Scope and Contents This is an autograph letter signed sent by Thomas Babington Macaulay to John Lee, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, London, 18 August 1845. It reads: "The approbation of the distinguished body over which you preside is most gratifying to me. I am sincerely desirous to guard the rights and to promote the prosperity of your University. I heartily wish that this were always as easy a task as it was on the occasion to which you refer. The injustice then meditated was so monstrous that...
Dates: 18 August 1845
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Smaller acquisitions collection

Class card for Greek of John Lee, 1795

 undefined
Identifier: EUA CA2/16/1
Dates: 1795
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Quatercentenary Collection / Donation 16 (Accession: E.1980/27)

Lee, John, c 1843-1847

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1073/7/23v
Scope and Contents

Portrait of John Lee. Caption added later in pencil: "Sir John Lee".

Dates: c 1843-1847
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Hill and Adamson Calotypes / Loose Photographs

Papers of Professor John Lee

 Fonds — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Coll-2282
Scope and Contents

Papers of John Lee, Principal of the University of Edinburgh and Professor of Divinity, including: lectures and notes on divinity, biblical criticism, rhetoric and sermon writing, ecclesiastical history, and metaphysics and moral philosophy (pencil note: "[illegible] he seems to have taken Prof Wilson's course); "fragments of lectures, sermons, and prayers"; and "pamphlets, letters and miscellaneous papers relating to the Marriage Affinity Bill 1850".

Dates: c 1812-1854
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Press Catalogue, 1801

 Item — Volume EUA IN1/ADS/LIB/1/Da.1.26
Identifier: EUA IN1/ADS/LIB/1/Da.1.26
Scope and Contents

List of pamphlets, tracts etc. in the Library of the University of Edinburgh not detailed in the Catalogues. At end: 'The preceding catalogue was taken down by the desire of Professor Dalzel, by John Lee, M.D. November, 1801'. This may be the same John Lee who was later Principal of the university, and who was awarded his doctorate in 1801.

Dates: 1801
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Records of the University of Edinburgh / Administration and Support Services / Library / Catalogues