Carlyle, Alexander, Dd

Carlyle, Alexander, D.D.

a Scotch Presbyterian minister, was born in 1722. He entered the University of Edinburgh at the age of fourteen, and that of Glasgow in 1743, where he graduated in 1745. He visited Leyden; and in 1746 returned to his native land and entered the ministry at Cockburnspath, whence in 1748 he was transferred to Inveresk. He attended the theatre, revised the tragedy of Douglas, and was present when it was first acted, in 1756. For that indiscretion the synod and presbytery declared their high displeasure. In 1760 he was recommended to preach before the lord high commissioner and General Assembly, but was opposed, though agreed to without a vote; the only case on record where objection was taken to the preacher selected by the committee. He became almoner to the king in 1762, resigning in 1785, when chosen a dean of the chapel royal. He was elected moderator of the General Assembly in 1770, and in 1789 was nominated as principal clerk to the assembly, but, although having most votes, rejected. He died Aug. 25,1805. In consequence of his exertions, chiefly, the government relieved the clergy from, the house and window tax. He was instrumental in preserving Collins's Ode on the Superstitions of the Highlands. He was a tall, handsome man, with long, gray hair. He published, An Argument to Prove that the Tragedy of Douglas ought to be Burned by the Hangman (1757): —Four single Sermons: —Autobiography (1760): —The Prologue to Herminius and Esparia (1754); and other works. See Fasti Eccles. Scoticanae, 1, 287, 288; Christian Observer, 1861, p. 245.