[1][2] He was born in Glasgow in March 1759[3] the son of Rev John Jamieson, minister of the Associate Congregation on Duke Street.

[5] After six years' theological study, Jamieson was licensed to preach in 1781 and became pastor of the Secessionist (Anti-burgher) congregation in Forfar, Angus.

[7] In 1788 he was asked to replace Rev Adam Gib at the Anti-burgher church in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, but did not accept this until its next vacancy, being inducted on 30 May 1797.

[11] He retired due to ill health in 1830 and died at home, 4 George Square, Edinburgh[12] on 12 July 1838 and is buried in St Cuthbert's churchyard.

He prepared an abridgment in 1818 (reissued in 1846 with a memoir by John Johnstone), and aided by numerous others, he added two supplementary volumes in 1825.

These volumes remained the standard reference work for the Scots language until the publication of the Scottish National Dictionary in 1931.