Dr Andrew Hunter, Professor of Divinity

"DR. ANDREW HUNTER was the eldest son of Andrew Hunter, Esq. of Park, Writer to the Signet. His mother, Grisel Maxwell, was a daughter of General Maxwell, of Cardoness, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright - a gentleman alike distinguished for his bravery and his piety. He was a zealous supporter of the Protestant interest; and, at the Revolution in 1688, was one of those who accompanied the Prince of Orange from Holland.

Dr. Hunter was born in Edinburgh in 1743, and, at an early period, gave evidence of that mildness of temper and goodness of disposition which so much endeared him in after life to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was educated at the school taught by Mr. Mundell, one of the most distinguished teachers in Edinburgh at that period. Nearly fifty years afterwards, out of respect to him, a club was formed, consisting of those who had been his scholars-among whom we may enumerate the Earl of Buchan, Lord Hermand, Lord Polkemmet, Lord Balmuto, and other distinguished individuals, including Dr. Hunter. The members were in the habit of dining together at stated periods in honour of his memory. At these social meetings the parties lived their boyish days over again; and each was addressed in the familiar manner, and by the juvenile soubriquet which he bore when one of the " schule laddies." Any deviation from these rules was punished by a fine.

After passing through his academical studies at the University of Edinburgh, DI. Hunter spent a year at Utrecht, which he chiefly devoted to the study of theology - such a course being at that time considered highly necessary to perfect the student of divinity. Thus prepared for the Church, Dr. Hunter was licensed as a probationer by the Presbytery of Edinburgh in 1767; but he refused to accept of any charge till after the death of his venerable father, towards whom he manifested the utmost degree of filial affection, cheering the evening of his days by his kind attention and solicitude.

While attending the University, Dr. Hunter became intimate with several young gentlemen, afterwards distinguished in their various walks of life : among others, Sir Robert Liston (for many years ambassador to the Ottoman Court); Dr. Alexander Adam (rector of the High School); Dr. Sommerville, minister of Jedburgh (the historian); and Dr. Samuel Charteris, minister of Wilton. He was also connected with several literary and theological societies formed among his fellow-students; and was a member of the Newtonian Society, instituted in 1760, which for several years continued to meet weekly in one of the rooms of the College, and which may be said to have been the precursor of the present Royal Society of Edinburgh.

An anecdote is told of Dr. Hunter in connection with this Society. He was at the time very young, and not sufficiently practised in the art of literary condensation. When it came to his turn to produce an essay for the evening, he had entered so sincerely and fully upon the subject that he appeared at the forum with an immense bundle of papers under his arm, and commenced by stating that his discourse consisted of twelve different parts! This announcement alarmed the preses for the night so much, that he interrupted him by declaring that he had twelve distinct objections to the production of such a mass of manuscripts. The preses accordingly stated his twelve reasons, and was followed on the same side by six other members, who prefaced their observations by a similar declaration. During this opposition the temper of the young theologian remained unruffled; and it was not till the last speaker had finished his oration that he took up his papers, and, without deigning to reply, walked out of the room.

In 1770 Dr. Hunter was presented to the New Church of Dumfries, and soon afterwards became the purchaser of the estate of Barjarg in that county, which had previously belonged to James Erskine of Barjarg and Alva-one of the Senators of the College of Justice. He remained at Dumfries for nine years, and was much esteemed by all classes of the community.

In 1779 he was presented to the New Greyfriars' Church, Edinburgh; and whilst there was appointed the colleague of Dr. Hamilton (father to the late eminent physician), in the Divinity Professorship of the University; and, until the death of that gentleman, continued to teach his class without any remuneration."