Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hunter, Andrew

619095Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 28 — Hunter, Andrew1891George Washington Sprott

HUNTER, ANDREW, D.D. (1743–1809), professor of divinity at Edinburgh, born in Edinburgh in 1743, was the eldest son of Andrew Hunter of Park, writer to the signet, of the Abbotshill branch of the Hunters of Hunterston, Ayrshire. His mother was Grizel, daughter of General Maxwell of Cardoness in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright. After an education at a private school in Edinburgh, he passed to the university, where he completed the usual course of study in arts and divinity. He subsequently spent a year at the university of Utrecht studying theology. He was licensed as a preacher by the presbytery of Edinburgh in 1767, but, unwilling to be separated from his father, he declined for some years to accept a pastoral charge. During this period he was an active member of several literary and theological societies, and his reading and studies were directed by Robert Walker [q.v.] of the High Church, Edinburgh, the colleague of Dr. Blair, and one of the best preachers of the time. In 1770 he was ordained, and inducted as minister of the New Church, Dumfries, and soon afterwards he purchased the estate of Barjarg in that county. He was translated to New Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh, in 1779, and at the same time was appointed colleague and successor to Dr. Robert Hamiliton in the professorship of divinity in the university. In 1786 he was translated to the Tron Church, was moderator of the general assembly in 1792, declined soon afterwards the offer of a royal chaplaincy, and died 21 April 1809. He was a prominent member of the evangelical section of the church. Inheriting an ample fortune, he taught the divinity class without remuneration as long as Dr. Hamilton lived, often helped poor students with pecuniary aid, and gave largely to the charitable and religious enterprises of the time. He married in 1779 Marion Schaw, eldest daughter of William, sixth lord Napier, by whom he had William Francis, advocate, who took the additional name of Arundel, and succeeded to the estate of Barjarg; John, D.D., minister of Swinton, and afterwards of the Tron Church, Edinburgh; and Grizel, who married George Ross, esq., advocate.

Hunter published three separate sermons (1775, 1792, and 1797). Two other of his sermons are in the `Scottish Preacher.'

[Scott's Fasti; Bower's Univ. of Edinb.; Kay's Portraits; Anderson's Scottish Nation.]

G. W. S.