| Administrative History | James Dun [1708-1798]. He was Beattie's father-in-law. At Marischal College 1728-1732. Under-master at Aberdeen Grammar School in 1732. Master and later Rector from 1744. LLD Marischal College 1772. He married Mary Beaton [1706-1781], who was the daughterof Kenneth Bethune Scott. The mental health of the Duns' children was said to be inherited from her. Beattie lived in Dun's house when he first came to Aberdeen in 1758 and also after he married Dun's daughter in 1767, and the families shared a house for much of Beattie's life. In the final years of Dun's life the relationshp became tense with disagreements on the management of Mary Beattie's mental health.
Mary (Mally Beattie) (1744 - 1807), Beattie's wife. Beattie met her when he boarded with her father on first coming to Aberdeen in 1758. They married in 1767. |
| Description | Beattie describes trip to Edinburgh with his wife Mally [Mary Dun] after their wedding. Mally's health has not been good, but better now. Has visited Tweeddale, mentions many songs. Mary writes that she did not promise to be obedient, talks about Edinburgh, people seen on the fvisit, and family matters |