Rev Robert Douglas, 1747 - 1820

 

 

Rev RobertRobert Douglas, born Kenmore, Perthshire, 19th July 1747, son of John Douglas, minister of Kenmore, afterwards of Jedburgh; died 15th Nov. 1820, educated at Marischal College and University of Aberdeen;

licensed by the Presbytery of Haddington 5th September 1769; ordained to Galashiels and Bolside 19th July 1770; D.D. (King's College, Aberdeen, 1797);


By his efforts and by his becoming security for the capital required, the manufactures of the then small village of Galashiels were largely founded and extended. His share in this promoting the prosperity, though the wool trade, of Galashiels and the grateful recognition of his people, form an interesting feature in the history of the town. He has been termed the 'Father of Galashiels'.

 It was from him Sir Walter Scott purchased the small estate on which Abbotsford was built, and he was the minister to whom the 13th of 'Paul's Letters to his Kinsfolk' is addressed, in which are several allusions to his intimacy with Sir Walter.


He married 4th June 1784, Robina (died 1st Oct. 1837 aged 82) daughter of Edward Lothian, jeweller, Edinburgh, and had issue
• John, born 4th April 1786, died 11th Oct 1787;
• Edward Lothian, born 6th Jul 1787, died 1st Jan 1789;
• Helen, born 18th Sept 1788 (marr. John Thomson, minister of Maxton);
• Beatrice, born 18th Oct 1790, died 28th Dec. 1850;
• Robert, born 27th Feb 1793, died 15th Sept 1809;
• George, merchant, Glasgow, born 21st Nov. 1794, died 11th June 1846;
• Arabella, born 2nd March 1798, died 27th Jan. 1876.

Publications -
• 'On Oaths and the Danger of Multiplying them' (1783);
• 'A General View of the Agriculture of the Counties of Roxburgh and Selkirk.' (Edinburgh 1798);
• 'Account of the Parish of Galashiels' (Sinclair's Statistical Account [as above])

 

His daughter, Arabella donated a stained glass window of the Good Samaritan to St Paul's Church, Galashiels

Click to enlarge

 

 

Notes:
•  Portrait by Sir Henry Raeburn, c1813

 

 

 

This page was last updated on 14 April 2022

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