Divinity

The Chair of Divinity had been founded in 1620, following the separation of the roles of Principal and Professor of Theology. It soon began to attract private donations and bequests. Between 1618 and 1634, the Town Council received 8,475 merks from ten separate donors towards the upkeep of the Chair. These sums, however, were dwarved by the funds bestowed by Bartilmo Somerville in 1639.

Professors of Divinity

• Andrew Ramsay - 1620

• Henry Charteris - 1627

• James Fairley - 1629

• John Sharp - 1630

• Alexander Colville - 1648

• Samuel Rutherford - 1649

• David Dickson - 1650

• Patrick Scougall - 1662

• William Keith - 1664

• Laurence Charteris - 1675

• John Menzies - 1682

• John Strachan - 1683

• George Campbell - 1690

• George Meldrum - 1701

• William Hamilton - 1709

• James Smith - 1732

• John Gowdie - 1733

• Robert Hamilton - 1754

• Andrew Hunter - 1779

• William Ritchie, 1809

Thomas Chalmers, 1828

John Lee, 1844

Thomas J. Crawford, 1859

Robert Flint, 1876

William Paterson Paterson, 1903