Angus Makellar

The Very Rev Dr Angus Makellar DD (1780–1859) was a Scottish minister of the Church of Scotland who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1840.[1] Leaving in the Disruption of 1843 he also served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland in 1852.

Pencaitland Church
8 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh
The grave of the Very Rev Angus Makellar, Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh

Life

He was the son of Duncan Makellar, a farmer in Argyleshire.[2] He was born in Kilmichael on 22 June 1780. He studied divinity at Glasgow University and was licensed to preach in 1810.

He was ordained as a minister in 1812 and began as minister of Carmunnock

From 1814 he was minister of Pencaitland in East Lothian east of Edinburgh. He left the Church of Scotland in the Disruption of 1843 and moved to Edinburgh hoping to find a church to minister. From 1844 he was living at 8 Walker Street in the West End.[3] Although he never served as a minister for the Free Church he was elected their Moderator in 1852. Ironiocally his son Rev William Makellar laid first claim top the Free Church in Pencaitland and effectively usurped his father in this role. As his father was 63 years old this was not a great concern.

On the death of his father-in-law (around 1850) he inherited the Hampden and Kerr sugar plantations in Jamaica. The estate was (and is) a major producer of rum.[4] He also inherited his wife's family home at 8 Charlotte Square one of the most prestigious addresses in Edinburgh and the family lived there thereafter. Although listed in some documents as a "slave owner" this is inaccurate as Britain had abolished slavery in its colonies at the time of his inheritance.[5]

He died at home in Charlotte Square on 10 May 1859 and is buried with his family in Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh.[2][6] The grave lies at the extreme western end of the concealed southern terrace.

Family

In 1814 he was married to Helen Stirling (1783-1859) daughter of William Stirling of Pentcaitland (born at 8 Charlotte Square in Edinburgh).

He was father to Rev Dr William Makellar (1816-1896). They were also parents to Dr John Archibald Makellar and Jane Anne Makellar.

References
  1. "Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland genealogy project". Geni.com. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  2. "Summary of Individual - Legacies of British Slave-ownership". Ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  3. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1846-7
  4. "Hampden Estate Gold Jamaica Rum Review". Thefatrumpirate.com. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  5. "Summary of Individual - Legacies of British Slave-ownership". Ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  6. Sale, Charles. "Gravestone Photographs Resource grave details page". Gravestonephotos.com. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
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