| Administrative History | John Millar (1735-1801), advocate, was born in 1735 in Lanarkshire, the son of James Millar, minister, and the daughter of Archibald Hamilton of Westburn, Lanarkshire. When his father became minister of Hamilton, John was sent to live with his uncle John (d 1785) at the family estate of Millheugh, Blantyre. His uncle taught him to read and in 1742 he was sent to the grammar school in Hamilton. In 1746 he went to Glasgow University and when a little older, lived in college chambers and dined with his mother's cousin, William Cullen. He attended Adam Smith's lectures on moral philosophy. Although intended for the church, Millar studied law and after completing his course at Glasgow he spent two years as tutor to the son of Henry Home, Lord Kames. He became an advocate in 1760, and the following year, shortly after marrying Margaret Craig (d 1795), he accepted the position of Professor of Law at the University of Glasgow giving lectures on jurisprudence, civil law and government.
Millar spent a lot of time at the farm of Whitemoss, near Kilbride, given to him by his Uncle John. When both his father and uncle died in 1785 he inherited Millheaugh. He and his wife had four sons and seven daughters. His wife died in 1795 and he lost a daughter to consumption in 1791. His eldest son John also went to the bar but died in 1795. His son James became Professor of Mathematics at Glasgow University, William (d 1838) became Lieutenant-general, Colonel Commandant the Royal Artillery and the fourth son became a writer to the signet. Millar was also a member of the Literary Society of Glasgow where he spoke regularly and he visited England in 1774 and 1792. He published 'The Origin of the Distinction of Ranks, or an Enquiry into the Circumstances which gave rise to influence and authority in the different members of society' in 1771, seen as the beginning of modern sociology, and 'Historical View of the English Government from the Settlement of the Saxons in Britain to the Accession of the House of Stewart' in 1787. |
| Source | The papers were given to King's College Library in 1821 by John Lee (1779-1859) Principal, Edinburgh University. John Lee was born in Midlothian in 1779, and matriculated at the University of Edinburgh in 1794. He graduated MD in 1801, but after some medical practice he began to study law. He was then licensed to preach in 1807 and had a preaching position in London before becoming minister of Peebles. In 1812 he transferred to St. Mary’s College, St. Andrews, as Professor of Church History. In 1820 he was appointed Regent at King’s College, Aberdeen, where he was Professor of Moral Philosophy. He expressed a wish to resign at the end of the year because of some unidentified scandal or difficulty, but his resignation was withdrawn and instead a substitute was appointed to teach on his behalf for the rest of the session. He left Aberdeen in 1821, and was awarded an LL.D. there and a D.D. at St. Andrews. He accepted a call to Canongate Church, Edinburgh, moved to Lady Yester’s Church in 1825, became a Royal Chaplain in 1830, and in 1834 was appointed minister of Old Kirk, St. Giles, Edinburgh. In 1837 he accepted the post of Principal of United College, St. Andrews, and in 1840 he became both Dean of the Chapel Royal, Stirling, and Principal of Edinburgh University. In the Disruption of 1843 he remained loyal to the Church of Scotland and was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1844. He owned a very large library, and though learned he was extremely disorganised. He died in 1859. |