George Buchan of Kelloe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Buchan of Kelloe |
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| Born | 29 May 1775 Adam Square, Edinburgh |
| Died | 3 January 1856 (aged 80) |
George Buchan (born May 29, 1775 – died January 3, 1856) was an important person who worked for the government in India. When he was a teenager, he survived a terrible shipwreck on his first trip there. He grew up in a well-known family and became a very high-ranking official in the Indian Civil Service.
After he retired, George Buchan returned to Scotland. There, he had a strong religious experience and became a dedicated Christian. He was an elder in the Church of Scotland for many years. Later, he joined the Free Church of Scotland during a big event called the Disruption. He also wrote books about his shipwreck, his time in India, and other important topics. He was known for helping many charities.
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George Buchan's Early Life in Scotland
George Buchan was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 29, 1775. His family was quite important. His father was also named George Buchan. His mother was Anne Dundas. They got married in 1773.
George was the oldest of many children. He had seven brothers and seven sisters. Sadly, most of his brothers did not live to be adults. His family owned large areas of land in Scotland. These included places like Kelloe and Cumledge.
A Dangerous Voyage to India
When George Buchan was about 15 years old, he got a job in India. He set sail in May 1792 on a ship called the Winterton. This journey turned out to be very dangerous.
On August 20, the ship hit a hidden coral reef. This happened near Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. There were 280 people on board. The ship broke apart, and many people drowned. George Buchan was thrown into the dark sea. He managed to grab onto a plank. He was washed off it twice. Luckily, he floated to a part of the ship that had become a raft. About 40 other survivors were on it.
For four days, they suffered greatly. They had no food or water. They were also very cold. They ate raw pig meat to survive. On the sixth day, local people rescued them in canoes. They then had to walk for a week to reach a town. George had lost his shoes and was very tired.
They were treated kindly, but it took seven months to leave the island. Many survivors died during this time. They faced more delays on their way to India. Finally, in January 1794, they reached Madras. The whole journey took over 20 months!
Working for the Government in India
George Buchan started his work in India. He became a civil servant. This meant he worked for the government. He rose through the ranks. Eventually, he became the chief secretary in Madras. This was a very important job. He worked there until 1809.
He even wrote a book about some disagreements that happened in Madras. His job history shows how important he was:
- He started as a writer in Madras in 1792.
- He helped the secretary in different departments.
- He also worked as a French translator.
- He managed money for a trip to Malacca.
- He became a secretary in various departments.
- In 1803, he became the Chief Secretary.
- He was a private secretary to the government in 1809.
- He returned home to Scotland in 1810.
Returning Home and His Faith
George Buchan came back to Scotland because he was not well. He also had important personal reasons. He settled at his family home, Kelloe.
After returning, he had a deep religious experience. He started to live his life based on his Christian faith. He joined his sisters in helping others. They did many good things for their community.
- They started many Sunday schools. George even taught at them.
- They expanded a library with good books.
- They shared religious magazines and papers.
- Later, they opened a day-school at Kelloe House.
- They also supported missionaries who helped people in different areas.
About 20 years before he died, George had an accident. He fell into an ice-pit. This caused a bad injury to his leg. He was lame, meaning he limped, for the rest of his life.
His Role in the Church of Scotland
In 1825, George Buchan became an elder in the church at Edrom. An elder is a leader in the church. He often invited Christian leaders to his home. They would hold prayer meetings and preach there.
He was friends with famous people like Hannah More and William Wilberforce. He also knew Thomas Chalmers, a very important church leader.
For many years, George was part of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This was like the church's parliament. He strongly believed the church should be free to make its own rules. He felt the government should not control church matters.
In 1842, he supported getting rid of "patronage." This was a system where wealthy landowners could choose church ministers. George believed that the church needed to be truly independent.
He wrote a pamphlet in 1840 about the Church of Scotland. He said the church had a right to make its own spiritual rules. He believed this right came from Jesus Christ. He also said that if the church gave up its independence, it would lose its true character.
George Buchan played a big part in the "Ten Years' Conflict." This was a time of great disagreement in the church. His home became a meeting place for church leaders. They discussed how to keep the church independent.
He was unable to attend the main event of the Disruption in 1843. This was when many ministers and members left the Church of Scotland. They formed the Free Church of Scotland. George Buchan joined the Free Church. He continued to be a leader in this new church.
George Buchan as an Author
George Buchan wrote several books and pamphlets. He wrote about his time in Madras. He also wrote about shipwrecks, like his own experience.
He wrote three strong pamphlets against duelling. Duelling was a dangerous practice where two people fought with weapons. He wrote about this after a famous trial involving a duel.
In 1829, he published a book called "Practical Illustrations of a Particular Providence." In this book, he shared his own amazing life experiences. He wrote about how he believed God had guided him through difficult times.
His Later Years and Legacy
George Buchan passed away on January 3, 1856. He was 80 years old. He spent his last days with his sister, Margaret. She was the last of his many siblings.
A special plaque was put up in Edrom church to remember him. It says he was "zealous in every good work." This means he was very eager to do good things. It also says he was kind and generous to the poor. People respected him for his intelligence and strong character.
George Buchan was involved in county business from 1813. He also left a lot of money in his will to support the Free Church. This included money for ministers, for older ministers, and for missionary work.
Helping Others Through Charity Work
George Buchan was a leader in several charity organizations. He worked hard to help people.
- He was the President of the Edinburgh Religious Tract Society. This group shared religious writings.
- He was a vice-president of The Scottish Missionary Society. This group supported missionaries.
- He was on the committee for the Edinburgh Society. This group worked to end slavery.
