He was born in Glasgow on 10 June 1754 the son of Robert Paul and his wife Agnes Anderson.

He then gained a position as private tutor to the family of David Leslie, 6th Earl of Leven, who lived in Gayfield House just east of Edinburgh's New Town and also had estates in Fife.

Through this connection (with the Earl as his patron) he was licensed to preach as a Church of Scotland minister by the Presbytery of Cupar in September 1777.

[4] The grave lies on the raised ground south-west of the church and was remodelled by his grandson James Balfour Paul around 1870 (replacing the original gravestone).

[citation needed] His position at St Cuthbert's was filled by David Dickson.