Thomas McLauchlan (1815–1886) was a Scottish minister and theological author who served as Moderator of the General Assembly for the Free Church of Scotland 1876/77.
He was one of the first to promote Gaelic as an academic language. In 1859, he fuelled the fire of the Ossian debate by producing the "Gaelic originals" of the poem.[1]
This popular Gaelic divine was born at Moy, Inverness-shire, on the 29 January 1816. His father was the James Maclauchlan, who laboured long in Moy, while his mother was a member of the Clan Fraser.[2] He was the youngest son of James McLauchlan of Moy in Invernessshire, a Church of Scotland minister. His grandfather was Lauchlan McLauchlan of Abriachan. He studied at King's College, Aberdeen, Marischal College, Aberdeen graduating in 1833 and then the Theological College in Edinburgh under Thomas Chalmers. He was licensed to preach in 1837 by the Presbytery of Inverness, and was appointed colleague and successor to his father at Moy in 1838. At the Disruption he threw in his lot with the protesting party and was appointed minister of Stratherrick. He served the Free Church throughout the Highlands, and in 1846 he went to Canada to visit the Presbyterian Church there as the representative of the Free Church of Scotland. In the spring of 1849 he was called to St. Columba Gaelic Free Church, Edinburgh, where he laboured till the close of his career. He was then living at 16 Keir Street near the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.[3] He undertook the charge of a Gaelic class for the benefit of Highland students attending the Edinburgh University which he conducted for many years. In 1856 he was made a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and among the papers which he contributed to that Society's transactions were — "On the Dean of Lismore's Gaelic Manuscript " ; " On Standing Stones in the Ross of Mull " ; "On the Kymric Element in the Topography of Scotland. 1 ' In 1864 he received the honour of LL.D. from Aberdeen University. He acted as convener of the Free Church Committee on the Highlands and Islands from 1854 till 1882, and was a warm supporter of whatever had for its object the moral and material welfare of his Highland fellow-countrymen.[4] In 1876 he succeeded Rev Alexander Moody Stuart as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church. He was then living at Viewforth Manse and preaching at Viewforth Church.[5] He died at Edinburgh 21st March, 1886.
Among his best known works are "The Early Scottish Church," 1873; "Carsweirs Prayer Book," 1873; Celtic Gleanings," 1857: "The Dean of Lismore's Book," 1862; "The Gaelic Reference Bible;" which he edited along with Dr. Clark, Kilmallie; "The Review of Gaelic Literature" (1877), which appeared in the "History of the Highlands and Highland Clans," was also from his pen. For many years he translated the "Monthly Visitor" into Gaelic, and the " Fear-tathaich Miosail" was heartily welcomed in many a Highland clachan. Dr. Skene who wrote the "Introduction " to the Dean of Lismore's book, makes the following reference to the labours of Dr. Maclauchlan in connection with that publication: — "It is hardly possible to convey to the reader an adequate conception of the labour of the task undertaken by Dr. Maclauchlan, or of the courage, perseverance and ability with which it has been overcome. Dr. Maclauchlan had first to read the Dean's transcript — no ordinary task, when to a strange orthography, affording no clue to the original word, was added a careless handwriting of the beginning of the sixteenth century, faded ink, and decayed paper. He had then to convert it into the corresponding Gaelic in its modern shape and orthography, and then to translate it into English, in which he had to combine the literal rendering of an idiomatic language with an intelligible exhibition of its meaning in English."[4]
In addition to the original works written by Dr. Maclauchlan, he edited a pocket edition of " Ossian's Poems " and an edition of " Stewart's Gaelic Grammar," while his contributions to current Gaelic literature will be found in the pages of "The Gael" and "Bratach na Firinn".[4]
He died on 21 March 1886.[6] He is buried in Grange Cemetery in south Edinburgh. The grave lies near the centre of the north-west section.
Publications
"United Parishes of Moy and Dalarossie" (Presbyterial and Parochial Reports on the State of Education in Scotland (1843), 150-5)
The Depopulation System in the Highlands (1849)[7]
The Way to God, or the Doctrine of Christ's Mediatorship briefly Expounded (Edinburgh, 1853)
Celtic Gleanings : or Notices of the History and Literature of the Scottish Gael (Edinburgh, 1857)
The Dean of Lismore's Book [translated and edited with William Forbes Skene, LL.D.] (Edinburgh, 1862)[9]
The Early Scottish Church from the First to the Twelfth Century (Edinburgh, 1865)
"Gaelic Literature, Language, and Music" (in John Scott Keltie's A History of the Scottish Highlands (Edinburgh, 1882)[10][11]
"Notice of Monoliths on the Island of Mull" (Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot., v., 48)
"On the Kymric Element in the Celtic Topography of Scotland" (Ibid., vi., 315)
Recent Highland Ejections considered (Edinburgh, 1850)
Criosd an t-eadar mheadhonair 'na Righ, Sermon in Gaelic (Edinburgh, 1860)
The Book of Common Order, commonly called John Knox's Liturgy, translated into Gaelic (1567) by John Carswell, Bishop of the Isles [the first book printed in Gaelic, of which only three imperfect copies are known] (Edinburgh, 1873)[12]
The Gaelic Reference Bible [jointly with Dr Clerk, Kilmallie] (Glasgow, 1860, 1863, and other editions[13]
Brown, Thomas (1883). Annals of the disruption. Edinburgh: Macniven & Wallace. p. 538 et passim.
Carswell, John (1873). Maclauchlan, Thomas (ed.). The Book of Common Order, commonly called John Knox's Liturgy. Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas.
Fionn (1908). Mackay, John (ed.). "Gaelic Men of Letters. VI. Rev. Thomas MacLauchlan, LL.D". The Celtic Monthly: A Magazine for Highlanders. XVI (11): 105-106. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Keltie, John Scott, Sir, ed. (1870a). History of the Scottish Highlands : Highland clans and Highland regiments, with an account of the Gaelic language, literature, and music. Vol. 1. London: W. MacKenzie.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
Keltie, John Scott, Sir, ed. (1870b). History of the Scottish Highlands : Highland clans and Highland regiments, with an account of the Gaelic language, literature, and music. Vol. 2. London: W. MacKenzie.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
Macpherson, James (1902). Maclauchlan, Thomas (ed.). Da Oisein mhic Fhinn : air an cur amach airson maith coitcheannta muinntir na Gaeltachd. Dun-eidin: J. Grant.
Maclauchlan, Thomas (1857). Celtic gleanings, or, Notices of the history and literature of the Scottish Gael : in four lectures. Edinburgh: Maclachlan and Stewart.
Maclauchlan, Thomas (1865). The early Scottish church : the ecclesiastical history of Scotland from the first to the twelfth century. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.
Maclauchlan, Thomas (1849). The depopulation system in the Highlands its extent, causes, and evil consequences : with practical remedies. Edinburgh: Johnstone and Hunter.
Maclauchlan, Thomas; Skene, W. F. (1862). The Dean of Lismore's book; a selection of ancient Gaelic poetry from a manuscript collection made by Sir James M'Gregor, dean of Lismore, in the beginning of the sixteenth century. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas.
Scott, Hew (1926). Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation. Vol. 6. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. p. 477. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Stewart, Alexander (1892). Elements of Gaelic grammar in four parts ... (4th with a preface by the Rev. Dr. Thomas M'Lauchlan ed.). Edinburgh: J. Grant.
August 20, 2023
thomas, mclauchlan, 1815, 1886, scottish, minister, theological, author, served, moderator, general, assembly, free, church, scotland, 1876, first, promote, gaelic, academic, language, 1859, fuelled, fire, ossian, debate, producing, gaelic, originals, poem, co. Thomas McLauchlan 1815 1886 was a Scottish minister and theological author who served as Moderator of the General Assembly for the Free Church of Scotland 1876 77 He was one of the first to promote Gaelic as an academic language In 1859 he fuelled the fire of the Ossian debate by producing the Gaelic originals of the poem 1 Contents 1 Life 2 Publications 3 Artistic recognition 4 Family 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 SourcesLife Edit St Columba s Gaelic Free Church Edinburgh Viewforth Church The grave of Rev Thomas McLauchlan Grange Cemetery EdinburghThis popular Gaelic divine was born at Moy Inverness shire on the 29 January 1816 His father was the James Maclauchlan who laboured long in Moy while his mother was a member of the Clan Fraser 2 He was the youngest son of James McLauchlan of Moy in Invernessshire a Church of Scotland minister His grandfather was Lauchlan McLauchlan of Abriachan He studied at King s College Aberdeen Marischal College Aberdeen graduating in 1833 and then the Theological College in Edinburgh under Thomas Chalmers He was licensed to preach in 1837 by the Presbytery of Inverness and was appointed colleague and successor to his father at Moy in 1838 At the Disruption he threw in his lot with the protesting party and was appointed minister of Stratherrick He served the Free Church throughout the Highlands and in 1846 he went to Canada to visit the Presbyterian Church there as the representative of the Free Church of Scotland In the spring of 1849 he was called to St Columba Gaelic Free Church Edinburgh where he laboured till the close of his career He was then living at 16 Keir Street near the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary 3 He undertook the charge of a Gaelic class for the benefit of Highland students attending the Edinburgh University which he conducted for many years In 1856 he was made a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and among the papers which he contributed to that Society s transactions were On the Dean of Lismore s Gaelic Manuscript On Standing Stones in the Ross of Mull On the Kymric Element in the Topography of Scotland 1 In 1864 he received the honour of LL D from Aberdeen University He acted as convener of the Free Church Committee on the Highlands and Islands from 1854 till 1882 and was a warm supporter of whatever had for its object the moral and material welfare of his Highland fellow countrymen 4 In 1876 he succeeded Rev Alexander Moody Stuart as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church He was then living at Viewforth Manse and preaching at Viewforth Church 5 He died at Edinburgh 21st March 1886 Among his best known works are The Early Scottish Church 1873 Carsweirs Prayer Book 1873 Celtic Gleanings 1857 The Dean of Lismore s Book 1862 The Gaelic Reference Bible which he edited along with Dr Clark Kilmallie The Review of Gaelic Literature 1877 which appeared in the History of the Highlands and Highland Clans was also from his pen For many years he translated the Monthly Visitor into Gaelic and the Fear tathaich Miosail was heartily welcomed in many a Highland clachan Dr Skene who wrote the Introduction to the Dean of Lismore s book makes the following reference to the labours of Dr Maclauchlan in connection with that publication It is hardly possible to convey to the reader an adequate conception of the labour of the task undertaken by Dr Maclauchlan or of the courage perseverance and ability with which it has been overcome Dr Maclauchlan had first to read the Dean s transcript no ordinary task when to a strange orthography affording no clue to the original word was added a careless handwriting of the beginning of the sixteenth century faded ink and decayed paper He had then to convert it into the corresponding Gaelic in its modern shape and orthography and then to translate it into English in which he had to combine the literal rendering of an idiomatic language with an intelligible exhibition of its meaning in English 4 In addition to the original works written by Dr Maclauchlan he edited a pocket edition of Ossian s Poems and an edition of Stewart s Gaelic Grammar while his contributions to current Gaelic literature will be found in the pages of The Gael and Bratach na Firinn 4 He died on 21 March 1886 6 He is buried in Grange Cemetery in south Edinburgh The grave lies near the centre of the north west section Publications Edit United Parishes of Moy and Dalarossie Presbyterial and Parochial Reports on the State of Education in Scotland 1843 150 5 The Depopulation System in the Highlands 1849 7 The Way to God or the Doctrine of Christ s Mediatorship briefly Expounded Edinburgh 1853 Celtic Gleanings or Notices of the History and Literature of the Scottish Gael Edinburgh 1857 The Poems of Ossian in Gaelic 1859 8 The Dean of Lismore s Book translated and edited with William Forbes Skene LL D Edinburgh 1862 9 The Early Scottish Church from the First to the Twelfth Century Edinburgh 1865 Gaelic Literature Language and Music in John Scott Keltie s A History of the Scottish Highlands Edinburgh 1882 10 11 Notice of Monoliths on the Island of Mull Proc Soc Antiq Scot v 48 On the Kymric Element in the Celtic Topography of Scotland Ibid vi 315 Recent Highland Ejections considered Edinburgh 1850 Criosd an t eadar mheadhonair na Righ Sermon in Gaelic Edinburgh 1860 The Book of Common Order commonly called John Knox s Liturgy translated into Gaelic 1567 by John Carswell Bishop of the Isles the first book printed in Gaelic of which only three imperfect copies are known Edinburgh 1873 12 The Gaelic Reference Bible jointly with Dr Clerk Kilmallie Glasgow 1860 1863 and other editions 13 Artistic recognition EditHe was portrayed by Norman Macbeth citation needed Family EditHe was married three times 1 22 March 1848 Eliza died 16 January 1855 aged 30 daughter of George Mackay D D Free Church Rafford and had issue James John actuary secretary Equitable Insurance Co born 13 December 1848 died at Bath 26 December 1920 George Mackay planter India born 6 April 1851 Hugh Simon journalist born 13 December 1852 died December 1899 Eliza Helen born 8 January 1855 died 21 January 1885 2 30 July 1857 Margaret Hunter died 25 January 1864 daughter of John Geddes C E and Davida Sutherland and had issue John David mining engineer born 14 September 1859 Thomas George physician born 16 July 1861 died September 1898 Margaret Hunter Geddes born 25 January 1864 3 25 February 1869 Fanny L died 13 April 1922 daughter of Hugh Fraser Aberskey Stratherrick and had issue Francis born 4 January 1870 died 29 March 1878 Simon Lachlan Fraser electrical engineer born 14 July 1872 Catherine Anna born 20 September 1874 13 His older brother Simon Fraser McLauchlan 1808 1881 was also a Free Church minister 14 15 References EditCitations Edit The reception of Ossian in Europe Howard Gaskill Scott 1926 pp 476 477 Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1851 a b c Fionn 1908 Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1876 The Free Church Monthly Dec 1886 Maclauchlan 1849 Macpherson 1902 Maclauchlan amp Skene 1862 Keltie 1870a Keltie 1870b Carswell 1873 a b Scott 1926 Ewing William Annals of the Free Church Scott 1926 p 440 Sources Edit Brown Thomas 1883 Annals of the disruption Edinburgh Macniven amp Wallace p 538 et passim Carswell John 1873 Maclauchlan Thomas ed The Book of Common Order commonly called John Knox s Liturgy Edinburgh Edmonston amp Douglas Fionn 1908 Mackay John ed Gaelic Men of Letters VI Rev Thomas MacLauchlan LL D The Celtic Monthly A Magazine for Highlanders XVI 11 105 106 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Keltie John Scott Sir ed 1870a History of the Scottish Highlands Highland clans and Highland regiments with an account of the Gaelic language literature and music Vol 1 London W MacKenzie a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names editors list link Keltie John Scott Sir ed 1870b History of the Scottish Highlands Highland clans and Highland regiments with an account of the Gaelic language literature and music Vol 2 London W MacKenzie a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names editors list link Leask William Keith 1905 Dr Thomas M Lauchlan with Introduction by Principal Rainy Edinburgh Oliphant Anderson and Ferrier Macpherson James 1902 Maclauchlan Thomas ed Da Oisein mhic Fhinn air an cur amach airson maith coitcheannta muinntir na Gaeltachd Dun eidin J Grant Maclauchlan Thomas 1857 Celtic gleanings or Notices of the history and literature of the Scottish Gael in four lectures Edinburgh Maclachlan and Stewart Maclauchlan Thomas 1865 The early Scottish church the ecclesiastical history of Scotland from the first to the twelfth century Edinburgh T amp T Clark Maclauchlan Thomas 1849 The depopulation system in the Highlands its extent causes and evil consequences with practical remedies Edinburgh Johnstone and Hunter Maclauchlan Thomas Skene W F 1862 The Dean of Lismore s book a selection of ancient Gaelic poetry from a manuscript collection made by Sir James M Gregor dean of Lismore in the beginning of the sixteenth century Edinburgh Edmonston and Douglas Mullinger James Bass 1893 Maclauchlan Thomas In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 35 London Smith Elder amp Co This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Scott Hew 1926 Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation Vol 6 Edinburgh Oliver and Boyd p 477 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Stewart Alexander 1892 Elements of Gaelic grammar in four parts 4th with a preface by the Rev Dr Thomas M Lauchlan ed Edinburgh J Grant Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas McLauchlan amp oldid 1130503088, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
