Andrew Bell (educationalist)

[2] In 1774 he sailed to Virginia as a private tutor and remained there until 1781 when he left to avoid involvement in the war of independence.

He became chaplain to a number of regiments in the presidency armies of the East India Company and gave a course of lectures.

He served as a priest in Edinburgh for a short time and married Agnes, daughter of Dr George Barclay in December 1801.

[6] Another educationist, Joseph Lancaster, was promoting a similar but not identical system and their differences developed into a major and continuing dispute.

In 1811 he became superintendent of the newly formed National Society for the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Christian Church which set up schools using Bell's system.

[11] As well as Madras College, St Andrews, Bell also left money for schools in Inverness (Faraline Park, now Inverness Library), Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leith (Commercial Street) and Cupar (now called Bell Baxter High School, formerly Madras Academy).

It needed close and enthusiastic supervision and small classes and was only really useful when funds were sparse and teachers in very short supply.