Sharp, James

Sharp, James, archbishop of St. Andrew's, was the son of William Sharp, sheriff-clerk of Banffshire, and was born in the castle of Banff, May, 1618. He was educated for the Church at the University of Aberdeen, but on account of the Scottish Covenant retired to England in 1638. Returning to Scotland, he was appointed professor of philosophy at St. Andrew's, through the influence of the earl of Rothes, and soon after minister of Crail. In 1656 he was chosen by the moderate party in the Church to plead their cause before the Protector against the Rev. James Guthrie, a leader of the extreme section (the Protestors, or Remonstrators). Upon the eve of the Restoration Sharp was appointed by the moderate party to act as its representative in the negotiations opened up with Monk and the king, In this matter he is believed to have acted with perfidy, receiving as a compensation, after the overthrow of Presbyterian government by Parliament, the archbishopric of St. Andrew's, to which he was formally consecrated at London by the bishop of London and three other prelates. His government of the Scottish Church was tyrannical and oppressive, and, in consequence, he became an object of hatred and contempt. He had a servant, one Carmichael, who by his cruelty had rendered himself particularly obnoxious to the Presbyterians. Nine men formed the resolution of waylaying the servant in Magus Muir, about three miles from St. Andrew's. While they were there waiting, Sharp appeared in a coach with his daughter, and was immediately despatched despite her tears and entreaties, May 3, 1679. In defense of Sharp, the utmost that can be said is that he was simply an ambitious ecclesiastic who had no belief in .the "divine right" of Presbytery, and who thought that if England were resolved to remain Episcopalian it would be very much better if Scotland would adopt the same form of Church government.