Alexander Geddes

Alexander Geddes (14 September 1737 – 26 February 1802) was a Scottish Catholic theologian and scholar.

Geddes was born at Rathven, Banffshire, of Catholic parentage, and educated for the priesthood at the local seminary of Scalan, and at Paris; he became a priest in his native county.

He then went to London, where he became known to Baron Petre, who enabled him to proceed with a new translation of the Bible for English Catholics,[2] which he carried on as far as the Book of Second Chronicles and the Prayer of Manasseh which was published in 2 volumes (1792–1797).

Geddes was also a poet, and wrote Linton: a Tweedside Pastoral, Carmen Seculare pro Gallica Gente (1790), in praise of the French Revolution.

[4] He died without recanting his works of higher criticism, but received absolution at the hands of a French priest, though public Mass for his soul was forbidden by the ecclesiastical powers.