Charles Cordiner facts for kids

Charles Cordiner (born around 1746, died 1794) was a Scottish clergyman. He was also a keen antiquarian. An antiquarian is someone who studies old things and history. Charles Cordiner is remembered for his books about ancient ruins and beautiful places in Scotland.

Discovering Charles Cordiner's Life

Bothwell Castle (painted around 1760s). Charles Cordiner was interested in old castles like this one.

Charles Cordiner became a minister in the Scottish Episcopal Church. He started working at St Andrew's Chapel in Banff in 1769. Banff is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

He became well-known for his writings. These writings were all about old buildings and historical sites. He loved to explore and describe Scotland's past.

His Family Life

Charles Cordiner passed away in Banff on 18 November 1794. He was 48 years old. He left behind his wife and eight children. One of his sons, James Cordiner, also became a writer and clergyman.

Charles Cordiner's Famous Books

Charles Cordiner wrote two important books. These books shared his discoveries about Scotland's history and landscapes.

• Antiquities and Scenery of the North of Scotland (1780): This book was written as a series of letters. It described old places and beautiful views in northern Scotland. You can find this book online at HathiTrust.
• Remarkable Ruins and Romantic Prospects of North Britain (1788–1795): This was a larger work, published in two volumes. It featured many engravings by an artist named Peter Mazell. The book showed amazing ruins and lovely scenes from across Great Britain. It also included ancient monuments and interesting natural history. Charles Cordiner did not live to see the very last part of this book published. You can view it online at HathiTrust.

Images for kids

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  The Hilton of Cadboll Stone, a famous ancient stone.

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  The Nigg Stone, another important historical monument.