HILL, GEORGE,
D.D.,
an eminent divine, born in St. Andrews in June 1750, was the son of
Rev. John Hill, one of the ministers of that town. He showed a
singular precocity of talent, and when only nine years old is said
to have written a sermon. At the age of 14 he took his degree of
M.A., and in his 15th year commenced the study of
theology. By his uncle, Dr. M’Cormick, the biographer of Carstairs,
he was introduced to Principal Robertson, on whose recommendation he
was appointed tutor to the eldest son of Pryce Campbell, M.P., then
one of the lords of the treasury. He repaired, in consequence, to
London in November 1767, and on the death of Mr. Campbell, returned
to Edinburgh with his pupil, and for two sessions attended the
divinity class in that city. In May 1772 he was elected joint
professor of Greek in the university of St. Andrews. In 1775 he was
licensed to preach by the presbytery of Haddington, and for two
years thereafter was assistant in the church of St. Leonard’s, St.
Andrews. In 1779 he was elected second minister of that town, and
was admitted to his charge June 22, 1780. He had previously sat in
the General Assembly as an elder, and after his appearance as a
minister, he succeeded Dr. Robertson as leader of the moderates. In
1787 he received from St. Andrews university the degree of D.D., and
was appointed dean of the order of the Thistle. In 1788 he was
chosen professor of divinity in St. Mary’s College, St. Andrews, and
three years after became principal of the university. He was also
one of his majesty’s chaplains for Scotland, and a dean of the
chapel royal. In 1808 he became first minister of his native town.
He died Dec. 19, 1819. – His works are:
Sermons. London, 1795, 8vo.
Theological Institutes. 1803, 8vo.
Lectures upon Portions of the Old Testament, illustrative of the
Jewish History. London, 1812, 8vo.
