Charles Arbuthnot (abbot) facts for kids
Charles Arbuthnot (born March 5, 1737 – died April 19, 1820) was a famous Scottish abbot (a leader of a monastery) and a top mathematician in Bavaria, a region in Germany. He was known for his smart ideas and his kind heart.
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Charles Arbuthnot's Early Life
Charles Arbuthnot was born in Rora, Scotland, on March 5, 1737. His parents were James Arbuthnot and Margaret Gordon. He was baptized in Longside on March 6, 1737.
He grew up in the Roman Catholic faith. When he was 11 years old, he was sent to Germany for his education.
A Life of Learning and Faith
In Germany, Charles became known as a brilliant scientist, mathematician, and chemist. People also admired his strong faith, deep knowledge, open mind, and kind spirit.
In 1757, Charles Arbuthnot joined the Benedictine Order, a group of monks. He became a member of the Monastery of St James, also called the Scots College, in Regensburg, Germany.
He took the name Benedict and lived the rest of his life at Regensburg. He only made one short trip back to Scotland in 1772. When his father passed away in 1770, Charles chose not to take his share of the family money.
Becoming an Abbot
On June 4, 1776, Charles Arbuthnot became the abbot of the Scots Monastery. He was highly respected by everyone.
In 1802, a big meeting called the Eternal Diet of Regensburg decided to take over all church lands in the empire. This decision was influenced by Napoleon Bonaparte.
However, because of Abbot Arbuthnot's influence, the Scots Monastery at Regensburg was specially protected. It was allowed to keep its lands, but it could not accept any new monks.
Protecting the Monastery
Abbot Arbuthnot declared the monastery a special Scottish national place. He put it under the direct authority of Rome, the center of the Catholic Church.
In 1814, the monastery came under the control of the Bishop of Regensburg. But it was still not closed down. This was because the monastery had invested a lot of its money in an Austrian bank, and the government didn't want to lose that money.
After Abbot Arbuthnot passed away, the monastery became a smaller priory because there weren't enough monks. Finally, in 1862, the monastery was closed for good. The Bavarian government bought its buildings.
His Legacy
According to Charles Arbuthnot's tombstone in Regensburg, he was born in Rora on March 5, 1737. He made his religious vows on November 21, 1756, and became a priest on February 14, 1761.
