Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/McCrie, Thomas (1797-1875)

1447233Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 35 — McCrie, Thomas (1797-1875)1893William Arthur Jobson Archbold

McCRIE, THOMAS, the younger (1797–1875), Scottish divine and author, born at Edinburgh 7 Nov. 1797, was eldest son of Thomas McCrie the elder [q. v.], by his first wife. He was educated at the high school and at the university of Edinburgh, but does not seem to have graduated. He afterwards entered the Theological Hall of the Original Secession Church, was ordained, and became secession minister of Crieff, 1820, and of Clola, Aberdeenshire, in 1828. In 1836 he succeeded his father as minister of the West Richmond Street meeting-house, Edinburgh. In the same year he became theological professor at the Original Secession Hall. At the disruption he favoured the non-intrusionist party. In 1852 the original seceders joined the free church of Scotland, and McCrie took a prominent part in the deliberations necessary for carrying out the arrangement; in 1856 he was moderator of the free assembly. In the autumn of the same year he was appointed professor of church history and systematic theology at the London college of the English presbyterian church. He retired in 1856 owing to failing eyesight. Theres of his life he passed at Gulliane in East Lothian and at Edinburgh. He died 9 May 1875 at 89 Minto Street, Edinburgh. McCrie preached well when he could use notes; he was a kindly a and popular with students. Before 1850 he was made D.D. by the Aberdeen, and LL.D. by that married Walteria, a daughter of Robert Chalmers, secession minister at Haddington, but left no children.

His chief works are:

  1. 'Life of Thomas McCrie,' Edinb. 1840, 8vo.
  2. 'Sketches of Scottish Church History,' Edinb. 1841, 8vo; other editions 1843, 1875; this was originally a reprint of lectures.
  3. 'The Ancient History of the Waldensian Church,' 1845, 8vo.
  4. 'Lectures on Chriatian Baptism,' 8vo.
  5. 'Memoirs of Sir Andrew Agnew,' Lond. 1850, 8vo.
  6. 'Thoughts on London with the Free Church of Scotland,' Edinburgh, 1862, 8vo.
  7. 'Annals of English Presbyterianism from the Earliest Period to the Present Time,' Lond. 1872, 8vo.

He edited a collection of his father's works; for the Wodrow Society, 'Wodrow's Correspodence' in 1842, and 'The Life of Robert Blair' in 1848; and Barrow's 'Treatise of the Pope's Supremacy,' ed. 1882, 8vo. He translated 'Pascal's Provincial Letters,' ed. 1847, 16mo; 1851, 8vo; 1875, 16mo. As a young minister he contributed to 'The Witness,' when conducted by Hugh Miller, and for a short time edited the 'British and Foreign Evangelical Review.'

[Wylie's Disruption Worthies, ed. 1881. pp. 349 sq. (with portrait); Scotsman, 11 May 1875 Free Church of Scotland Monthly Record, 1 July 1875; information kindly furnished by the Rev. C. G. McCrie.]

W. A. J. A.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.189
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

Page Col. Line  
14 1 f.e. McCrie, Thomas (1797-1875): for secession read original secession, and for 1820 read June 1822
20 f.e. for in 1828 read 16 April 1829
19-18 f.e. for West Richmond Street meeting-house read Davie Street church
6 f.e. for the English presbyterian church read the presbyterian church of England
ii 5 for secession read original secession
26-27 for As a young minister he read McCrie occasionally