Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cook, John (1771-1824)

1351632Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 12 — Cook, John (1771-1824)1887Alexander Gordon

COOK, JOHN, D.D. (1771–1824), professor of Hebrew, eldest son of the Rev. John Cook, professor of moral philosophy at St. Andrews, by Janet, daughter of the Rev. John Hill, was born 24 Nov. 1771. He graduated at St. Andrews in 1788. On 19 Sept. 1792 he was licensed for the ministry of the church of Scotland, and was ordained minister of Kilmany on 9 May 1793. He held this charge until 12 Oct. 1802; his immediate successor was Dr. Chalmers. Cook left Kilmany to fill the Hebrew and divinity chair in St. Mary's College, St. Andrews, a position which he occupied until his death. On 16 May 1816 he was moderator of the general assembly. He died on 28 Nov. 1824. He published ‘Inquiry into the Authenticity of the Books of the New Testament,’ Edin. 1821, 8vo (the substance of a course of lectures, on Bishop Marsh's plan).

[Hew Scott's Fasti Eccles. Scot.; Anderson's Scottish Nation, 1870, i. 680.]

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