The Life and Legacy of the Author of Fasti
The journey from extreme poverty to academic distinction is a rare feat, yet it defines the life of the man who dedicated himself to the meticulous preservation of Scottish ecclesiastical history. Born into humble beginnings in East Lothian, he overcame significant economic hardship to become a respected minister and a pioneering researcher of parish records.
Early Life and Struggles
Born on 5 February 1791 in Haddington, East Lothian, he was the son of Robert Scott, an excise officer, and Catherine Dunbar of Coldingham. His intellectual curiosity manifested early; by the age of 10, he had taught himself Latin. This aptitude was noticed by the local minister, Rev Dr Lorimer, who encouraged him to pursue studies for the ministry.
However, the turn of the century brought hardship. Following the death of his father around 1800, the family fell into extreme poverty. To survive, his mother opened a small shop. Around 1803, he was apprenticed to an ironmonger, spending his evenings selling stationery door-to-door. By 1810, he managed to open his own bookshop, marking his first step toward independent entrepreneurship.
Academic Pursuit and Education
His path to higher education was influenced by George Dunbar, a relative of his mother who had earned a degree from Glasgow University despite facing poverty and disability. Inspired, he matriculated at Edinburgh University in 1813. He pursued a diverse range of subjects, noting that had the Napoleonic Wars continued, he might have become an army surgeon instead of a minister.
To fund his education, he worked as an assistant librarian at Edinburgh University on two occasions in exchange for his fees. In 1816, he transferred to King's College, Aberdeen, where he earned his first Master of Arts (MA). He eventually graduated in divinity as a second degree in 1820.
The Genesis of Fasti
During his time in Edinburgh, he met the antiquarian Thomas Thomson. By assisting Thomson with massive projects involving public registries, he developed the concept for Fasti—a comprehensive amalgamation of every parish record into a single resource. This work was modeled after John Le Neve's Fasti Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ.
The project was a lifelong endeavor. Although first published in 1866, he soon realized that the records required regular updates to remain valuable, turning the publication into a continuous project.
Ecclesiastical Career
Despite being licensed to preach in 1820, he was not ordained until 1829. While he was initially offered a post in Canada, the intervention of David Laing persuaded him to remain in Scotland. He spent several years in minor assistant roles at Garvald, Whitekirk, Cockpen, and Temple.
It was not until 1839 that he secured his first position as a full minister at Anstruther Wester, having been presented by Sir Windham Carmichael Anstruther to replace Rev Dr Carstairs. During the Disruption of 1843—a major schism in the Church of Scotland—he famously remarked that he could not "get out" because he had faced too much difficulty just to "get in."
Honors and Final Years
In recognition of his monumental work on Fasti, St Andrews University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Divinity (DD) in 1867. He continued his work until his death on 12 July 1872 in Anstruther.
His commitment to education survived him through his will, which endowed the Scott and Dunbar Prize at Edinburgh University, an annual award granted to the best student of Greek.
Key Facts
- Born: 5 February 1791, Haddington, East Lothian.
- Education: Studied at Edinburgh University and King's College, Aberdeen.
- Major Work: Fasti, a comprehensive collection of Scottish parish records published in 1866.
- Career: Served as full minister at Anstruther Wester starting in 1839.
- Honors: Honorary Doctorate of Divinity (DD) from St Andrews University (1867).
- Legacy: Established the Scott and Dunbar Prize for Greek studies at Edinburgh University.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1791 | Born in Haddington |
| 1813 | Matriculated at Edinburgh University |
| 1816 | Transferred to King's College, Aberdeen |
| 1820 | Graduated in divinity |
| 1829 | Ordained as a minister |
| 1839 | Appointed full minister at Anstruther Wester |
| 1866 | First publication of Fasti |
| 1867 | Received honorary DD from St Andrews University |
| 1872 | Passed away in Anstruther |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fasti?
Fasti is a comprehensive historical work that amalgamated every Scottish parish record into one place, serving as a vital resource for ecclesiastical and genealogical research.
How did he fund his university education?
He worked his way through college, specifically serving as an assistant librarian at Edinburgh University twice in exchange for his tuition fees.
Why did he not leave the church during the Disruption of 1843?
He indicated that because he had struggled so significantly to enter the ministry, he felt he could not bring himself to leave it.
What is the Scott and Dunbar Prize?
It is an annual prize endowed by his will at Edinburgh University, awarded to the student who demonstrates the highest proficiency in Greek.
Where did he serve as a full minister?
He served as the full minister at Anstruther Wester, a position he attained in 1839.