Henry Moncreiff-Wellwood

The Very Rev Sir Henry Moncreiff-Wellwood 8th baronet of Tullibole DD FRSE (6 February 1750–9 August 1827) was a rare combination of both baronet in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and minister of the Church of Scotland who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1785.[1] At age only 35 he was one of the youngest-ever moderators. He served as Chaplain to King George III in Scotland.

Henry Moncreiff-Wellwood
Born	6 February 1750 (in Julian calendar)  Blackford
Died	9 August 1827  (aged 77)
Spouse(s)	Susan Robertson Barclay
Children	Sir James Wellwood Moncreiff, 9th Baronet, William Wellwood-Moncreiff, Isabella Wellwood-Moncreiff
Parent(s)	Sir William Moncreiff, 7th Bt.  Catherine Wellwood

Life

St Cuthberts Church, Edinburgh as seen from Moncrieff-Wellwood's grave

He was born Henry Wellwood Moncreiff at Blackford manse near Stirling on 6 February 1750, the eldest son of Catherine Wellwood and Sir William Moncreiff, Baronet, who equally had the dual claim to fame of being minister of the parish.[2]

After a local education he studied at the University of Glasgow from 1763. He then studied divinity at the University of Edinburgh. On the death of his father it was established that he should fill the role of minister in his stead but he was not yet old enough. In 1768 he removed to the University of Edinburgh to complete his studies.[3]

He was ordained by the Presbytery of Auchterarder on 15 August 1771 aged 21 and began preaching in Blackford. His talent outstripped this tiny parish and in 1775 he successfully obtained the patronage of his uncle to take over as minister of St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh (then generally called the West Kirk). He was first suggested as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1780, but lost to the much older Rev Harry Spens. He was, however, elected moderator in 1785 still aged only 35.[3]

In 1793 he was made Chaplain in Ordinary to King George III in Scotland. In 1796 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Andrew Dalzell, James Gregory and Rev William Greenfield.[4]

He was a member of the Sons of the Clergy. He lived his later life at 13 Queen Street.[5]

He died at Bruntsfield Links on 9 August 1827 following a long illness (compounded by the death of his wife).[6] He is buried in the north-west corner of the northern section of St Cuthbert's Churchyard.

Family

In 1773 he was married to Susan Robertson Barclay (d.1826) his cousin and the daughter of James Robertson Barclay WS of Keavil. Their eldest son William Moncrieff-Wellwood LLD was Advocate for the Admiralty and died in Malta in 1813. Their daughter Isabella Moncrieff was a writer of children books.

On his death the baronetcy passed to his second son, James Moncrieff-Wellwood (b.1776).[7]

Publications

• Sermons Preached 1805-1806
• Discourses on the Evidences of the Jewish and Christian Revelations (1815)
• A Life of Dr John Erskine (1818)

Artistic recognition

He was painted by Sir Henry Raeburn and an engraving was made by Thomson for wider use of the image.[8]

References

1. "Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland genealogy project". geni_family_tree.
2. "Person Page". thepeerage.com.
3. "Sir Henry Moncrieff Wellwood". www.electricscotland.com.
4. Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5.
5. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1826-7
6. The Gentleman's Magazine August 1827
7. The Peerage of Great Britain
8. "Rev. Sir Henry Moncreiff Wellwood, 1750 - 1827. Chaplain to George III". National Galleries of Scotland.