28 Facts About Andrew Melville

Andrew Melville was a Scottish scholar, theologian, poet and religious reformer.

Andrew Melville's fame encouraged scholars from the European continent to study at Glasgow and St Andrews.

Andrew Melville later went to France in 1564, and studied law at Poitiers.

Andrew Melville became regent in the College of Marceon, and took part in the defence of Poitiers against the Huguenots.

Andrew Melville then proceeded to Geneva, where he was appointed Professor of Humanity.

Andrew Melville returned to Scotland in 1574 and was appointed Principal of the University of Glasgow in autumn of that year.

Andrew Melville did much to establish the University on a proper footing and founded four chairs in Languages, Science and Philosophy.

Andrew Melville opposed the Episcopal tendency in the Church, and did much to establish the Presbyterian form of government.

Andrew Melville was appointed on a commission to wait upon James VI in 1582, with a remonstrance and petition which, notwithstanding the entreaties of his friends, he presented.

Andrew Melville caused the Synod of Fife in 1599 to censure certain propositions in the Basilikon Doron by the King.

Andrew Melville took part in that held at Aberdeen in 1605 and offered, with others, a protest to Parliament at Perth in 1606 in favour of the right of free Assembly.

Andrew Melville died unmarried after a series of illnesses at Sedan in 1622.

Andrew Melville was born at Baldovie near Montrose, Angus, the youngest son of Richard Melville.

Andrew Melville is described as the ninth son, yet speaks in a letter of 1612 as having outlived his 'fourteen brethren.

At an early age Andrew Melville began to show a taste for learning, and his brother did everything in his power to give him the best education.

Andrew Melville now attained great fluency in Greek, made acquirements in oriental languages, studied mathematics and law, and came under the direct influence of Peter Ramus, whose new methods of teaching he subsequently transplanted to Scotland.

Andrew Melville attended the last course of lectures delivered by Adrianus Turnebus, professor of Greek, as well as those of Petrus Ramus, whose philosophical method and plan of teaching Melville later introduced into the universities of Scotland.

In 1574 Andrew Melville returned to Scotland, and almost immediately received the appointment of Principal of the University of Glasgow, and began its renewal.

Andrew Melville enlarged the curriculum, and established chairs in languages, science, philosophy and divinity, which were confirmed by charter in 1577.

Andrew Melville's fame spread, and students flocked from all parts of Scotland and beyond.

Andrew Melville assisted in the reconstruction of the University of Aberdeen in 1575, and to do for St Andrews what he had done for Glasgow, he was appointed Principal of St Mary's College, St Andrews, in 1580.

Andrew Melville created a fashion for the study of Greek literature.

Andrew Melville opened the proceedings with a sermon, in which he boldly inveighed against the absolute authority claimed by the government in ecclesiastical matters.

Andrew Melville's example was followed by the other commissioners, and so much were Lennox and Arran over-awed by their intrepidity, that they dismissed them peaceably.

Some time after, when Adamson had been deprived of his archbishopric, and was reduced to great poverty, finding himself deserted by the king, he addressed a letter to his former antagonist, Andrew Melville, expressing regret for his past conduct, and soliciting his assistance.

Andrew Melville hastened to visit him, and not only procured contributions for his relief among his friends, but continued for several months to support him from his own resources.

The chief charge against Andrew Melville is that his fervour often led him to forget the reverence due to an "anointed monarch".

Dr M'Crie, whose Life of Andrew Melville was published in 1824, in 2 volumes, has given the names of all his works, printed and left in manuscript, and there is none of any great extent among them.