William Wishart (primus)

[1] He is not to be confused with his son William Wishart (secundus), who was subsequently the Principal of Edinburgh University from 1736 to 1754.

He was the grandson of Sir John Wishart (1570-1607) and Jean (Douglas) Wishart, the daughter of William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus and his wife, Agnes Keith, daughter of William Keith, 3rd Earl Marischal.

William was privately tutored, then studied divinity at Edinburgh University, graduating MA in 1680.

[4] In September 1707 he was translated to be minister of the Tron Kirk on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh in place of the Very Rev William Crichton who retired due to age (77).

[5] He is buried in the section of Greyfriars Kirkyard known as the "Covenanters Prison" (rarely open to public).

South Leith Church
Engraving of the kirk as it looked before 1785
The grave of Rev William Wishart, Greyfriars Kirkyard (Covenanters Prison)