John Howie (biographer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Howie
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obelisk in memory of Howie
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| Born | 14 November 1735 Lochgoin |
| Died | 5 January 1793 (aged 57) |
| Occupation | farmer |
| Nationality | Scottish |
John Howie (born November 14, 1735 – died January 5, 1793) was a Scottish writer who wrote about people's lives. His most famous book is Biographia Scoticana, first published in 1775. It's often called The Scots Worthies. This book tells the stories of important Scottish Christians, especially Presbyterians, and their struggles with church and government leaders.
Contents
John Howie's Life Story
John Howie was a farmer from Lochgoin in East Renfrewshire, Scotland. He believed his family came from a group called the Albigensians. John was the 28th person in his family line to be named John!
Even though he was a simple farmer, John loved reading and writing. He decided to write down the stories of Scotland's martyrs and confessors. These were people who suffered or died for their religious beliefs.
Lochgoin Farm: A Safe Place
His family's home at Lochgoin Farm was a well-known safe place for Covenanters. Covenanters were a group of Scottish Presbyterians who signed agreements (covenants) to protect their religion. Because of this, government soldiers often searched the farmhouse.
The farmhouse was rebuilt in the 1700s. A stone above the door shows the date 1187, which is when the Howie family first settled there. The family kept many old items from the Covenanters, and the farm became a small museum.
In 1896, a tall stone monument called an obelisk was put up near the farm. It was built "in memory of John Howie, author of the Scots Worthies." Today, this monument is located within the area of Whitelee Wind Farm. You can reach it by a track from the visitor center.
John Howie's Famous Books
John Howie wrote Lives of the Protestant worthies of Scotland. These were stories about important Protestant figures in Scotland, starting with Patrick Hamilton, who was the first martyr.
The Scots Worthies
His main book, Biographia Scoticana, was first published in 1775. It quickly became a very important book for understanding Scottish Church History. People often just called it The Scots Worthies.
John Howie worked to make the book better and bigger between 1781 and 1785. Later, new versions of the book were published with notes and illustrations.
Other Writings
John Howie also put together a book called A Collection of Lectures and Sermons by Covenanting Clergymen in 1779. He also edited another book called Faithful Contendings Display'd, which was about the Church of Scotland from 1681 to 1691. He wrote about other religious topics too.
Images for kids
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John Paton's sword, flag and Bible, which were owned by Howie
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The old Lochgoin Covenanters Museum
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Lochgoin Farm and the John Howie Memorial, East Ayrshire
See also
