Robert Kilgour

Robert Kilgour (1714–1790) was a Scottish clergyman who served in the Scottish Episcopal Church as Bishop of Aberdeen from 1768 to 1786 and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church from 1782 to 1788. He was an outspoken supporter of the Jacobite cause.

The Most Reverend Robert Kilgour, M.A.
Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Robert Kilgour
Province	Scotland
Elected	1782
Term ended	1788
Predecessor	William Falconer
Successor	John Skinner
Other posts	Bishop of Aberdeen (1768–1786), Incumbent of Peterhead (1737–1789)
Orders
Ordination	1737 (Deacon), 25 April 1738 (Priest)
Consecration	21 September 1768 (Bishop) by William Falconer
Personal details
Born	1714 Waulkmill, Cruden, Aberdeenshire
Died	23 March 1790 (aged 76) Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
Buried	Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
Nationality	Scottish
Parents	Robert Kilgour and Isobel Barron
Spouse	Margaret Arbuthnot
Children	five daughters

Early life and ministry

He was born at Waulkmill, Cruden, Aberdeenshire, and baptised there on 15 March 1714, the son of Robert Kilgour and Isobel Barron.[1] He was educated at King's College, Aberdeen from 1729 to 1733; graduating with a Master of Arts degree on 29 March 1733.[1] He was ordained deacon in 1737 and presbyter at Aberdeen on 25 April 1738.[1] He was appointed the Episcopal Incumbent of Peterhead in 1737.[1] In 1758, he married Margaret Arbuthnot (1721–1805), and they had five daughters.[1] One of their daughters, Christian, married Patrick Torry (later Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane) in 1787.[1]

Episcopal career

He was consecrated as Bishop of Aberdeen on 21 September 1768 by William Falconer, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, James Rait, Bishop of Brechin, and John Alexander, Bishop of Dunkeld.[1] Fourteen years later, Kilgour also became the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church on 25 September 1782.[1]

Along with bishops Arthur Petrie and John Skinner, Kilgour consecrated Samuel Seabury, an American Episcopal priest, as a bishop on 14 November 1784.[1][2]

He resigned as Bishop of Aberdeen in 1786, and as Primus in 1788, both post were succeeded by his Coadjutor, John Skinner.[1][3] In 1789, he resigned as Incumbent of Peterhead and was succeeded by his son-in-law, Patrick Torry.[4]

He died at Peterhead on 23 March 1790, aged 76.[1]

Further reading

• MacKay, Adam. Distinguished Sons of Cruden: General Patrick Gordon, Bishop Robert Kilgour, Honourable Thomas Smith, Sir Hugh Gilzean-Reid, Doctor Alexander Bruce. Peterhead: P. Scrogie, 1922.
• Mackay, Adam. The Right Reverend Robert Kilgour, M.A.: Bishop of Aberdeen and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church : Bi-Centenary of His Birth. [Aberdeen, Scotland: s.n, 1914.
• Peterhead (Scotland : Parish), A. Strath Maxwell, and Robert Kilgour. The Register of Baptisms of the Episcopalian Congregation at Peterhead, Scotland, 1738 to 1788: Baptisms Performed by Robert Kilgour. Aberdeen, Scotland: [s.n.], 1969.

References

1. Bertie 2000, Scottish Episcopal Clergy, p. 75.
2. A Short History to the Episcopal Church in Scotland (revised edition - 1974) F. Goldie pp 69/70.
3. Bertie 2000, Scottish Episcopal Clergy, p. 130.
4. Bertie 2000, Scottish Episcopal Clergy, p. 553.

Bibliography

• Bertie, David M. (2000). Scottish Episcopal Clergy, 1689-2000. Edinburgh: T & T Clark. ISBN 0-567-08746-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)