Robert Boyd (1578-1627)

Robert Boyd of Trochrig (1578-1627) was Principal of Edinburgh University from October 1622 to November 1623.

Biography

Born Glasgow, eldest of two sons of James Boyd of Trochrig, Archbishop of Glasgow, and Margaret Chalmers, daughter of James Chalmers, Baron of Gaithgirth. His father died when he was three, and his mother moved to Trochrig. Educated at Ayr Grammar School, he studied Divinity under Robert Rollock, graduating in 1594. He continued his education in France eventually staying in Montauban (headquarters of the Huguenot rebellion of 1621), where he taught philosophy for five years at the protestant university. In 1604 he became an ordained minister of the Reformed Church in Verteuil, and went to Saumur to be Professor of Philosophy at the University, obtaining the Chair of Divinity in 1608. He married Anna (d. c1654), daughter of Sir Peter de Maliverne of Vineola, in 1611.In 1614, James VI requested that he take the post of Principal of the University of Glasgow, which he reluctantly did. He also taught theology, Hebrew and Syriac as well as being minister at Govan. In 1621, Boyd resigned from the post when he became involved in the controversy regarding whether the Church of Scotland should have bishops, and angered the King in his opposition to the five articles of Perth. In 1622, he was invited to become Principal of Edinburgh University, which also included being the minister of Greyfriars Church. King James, on hearing of the appointment, wrote to the town council of Edinburgh dissuading them from keeping Boyd in post. He failed to regain his position as Principal at Glasgow, even after signing a declaration of conformity, in 1624. In 1625 he was offered the ministry of Paisley, which he accepted, but due to disturbances caused by the Marchioness of Abercorn, he resigned in 1626. In 1626 he became very ill with a swelling in the throat, and died in early 1627

Writings

His commentary on the epistle to the Ephesians, written while he was in France was published after his death, as Robert Bidii in epistolam Pauli Apostoli ad Ephesios (1652). He also wrote Latin poetry, some of which was published in Hetacombe Christiana (1627) and translated by Sir William Mure in A Spirituall hymne (1628).

Positions

• Chair of Divinity, Academy of Saumur, 1608
• Principal of the University of Glasgow, 1614-1621
• Principal of University of Edinburgh, 1622-1623
• Minister of Paisley, 1625-1626

Relationships

• Son of James Boyd of Trochrig, Archbishop of Glasgow, and Margaret Chalmers, daughter of James Chalmers, Baron of Gaithgirth.
• Husband of Anna (d. c1654), daughter of Sir Peter de Maliverne of Vineola
• Studied Divinity under Robert Rollock

Sources

• Rosalind K. Marshall, 'Boyd, Robert, of Trochrig (1578-1627)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, Sept 2004) [[1], accessed 16 July 2010]