Lee, John
Biography: Church of Scotland minister and university principal. Born Torwoodlee-Mains, Edinburghshire 1779. Educated at a school in Selkirkshire, then University of Edinburgh 1794, M.D., 1801. Served in the army hospital service for a short time then began studying law, but decided to enter the Church of Scotland. Licensed to preach 1804, and became amanuensis at Inveresk. Ordained 1807 and became minister of Peebles. Professor of church history at St Mary's Coll., St Andrews, 1812, chosen as rector of the college. Professor of moral philosophy at King's Coll., 1820. Resigned both professorships 1821 and accepted a call to the Canongate church, Edinburgh. Given the degree of D.D by University of St Andrews. L.L.D., King's Coll., 1821. Minister of Lady Yester's Church, Edinburgh, 1825. Principal clerk of the general assembly 1827. Chaplain-in-ordinary to the King 1830. Minister of St Giles, Edinburgh 1834. Principal of University of St Andrews, 1839. Dean of the Chapel Royal, Stirling 1840. Principal, University of Edinburgh, 1841. Professor of divinity, University of Edinburgh, 1843. Moderator of the general assembly 1844. Career was somewhat impeded by his rivalry with Thomas Chalmers. Collected a library of 20,000 volumes and led a successful campaign in the 1820s to overturn the exclusive rights of the Royal printers to print the Bible in Scotland. Died 1859 at the University of Edinburgh.
Biography Date: 1779-1859
Biography References: LOC; DNB; Fasti 65-6, 115;
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