He was twice Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland both in 1819 and in its most critical year of 1843.

He was born on 27 September 1771 in the manse at Drymen, a village north-east of Glasgow.

He was educated locally then went to Glasgow University where he studied Philosophy and Literature, graduating MA in 1788.

In 1819 he succeeded Rev John Campbell as Moderator of the General Assembly.

[4] It stands in front of the John Knox Monument, and forms an important part of the local Glasgow skyline.