Robert Henry (minister) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Henry
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| Born | 18 February 1718 |
| Died | 24 November 1790 (aged 72) |
Robert Henry (born February 18, 1718 – died November 24, 1790) was an important Scottish minister and historian. He was known for writing a big history book about Great Britain. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (FSA(Scot)), which are groups for smart people who study history and other subjects.
Contents
Robert Henry's Early Life and Education
Robert Henry was born on February 18, 1718. His parents were Jean Galloway and James Henry, a farmer. They lived at Muirton Farm, near a place called St. Ninians in Scotland.
He went to school at St Ninian's Parish School. After that, he studied at Stirling Grammar School. He then continued his education at the University of Edinburgh.
Becoming a Minister
After finishing his studies, Robert Henry worked as a teacher. He taught at Annan Grammar School for a while. Later, he decided to become a minister in the Church of Scotland.
He was officially allowed to preach in 1746. It took him some time to find a church to lead. In 1748, he became a minister in Carlisle, which is just over the border in England. He moved to Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1760, still in England.
Moving to Edinburgh
In May 1768, Robert Henry finally got a job in Scotland. He became a minister at New Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh. The University of Edinburgh gave him an honorary degree in 1770. This special degree recognized his achievements.
In 1774, he was chosen for a very important role. He became the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This means he was the leader of the main meeting for the Church of Scotland that year.
In 1776, he moved to another important church in Edinburgh. He became a minister at the Old Kirk, St Giles. He stayed in this role for the rest of his life.
Founding the Royal Society
In 1783, Robert Henry helped start a new group called the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This society brought together smart people from different fields of study.
He passed away on November 24, 1790, at his home in Edinburgh. He was buried with his family in Polmont churchyard. He left his collection of books to the town of Linlithgow.
Robert Henry's Family Life
Robert Henry was married to Anne Balderston in June 1763. Anne passed away in the year 1800.
Robert Henry's Famous Books
Robert Henry is most famous for writing a large history book. It was called History of Great Britain on a New Plan. This book had six volumes, which means it was published in six parts.
The book covered a long period of time. It started from the first Roman invasion of Britain. It went all the way up to the time of King Henry VIII.
A New Way to Write History
What made his history book special was its "new plan." Instead of just telling events in order, he divided history into different topics. For example, he had sections for:
- Civil history (about government and people's lives)
- Military history (about wars and armies)
- Social history (about how people lived and interacted)
He would then follow each of these topics separately through time. This made it easier to understand different parts of history.
Even though some people criticized his work, it was very popular. He earned a lot of money from it, over £3000. He also received a special payment from the government because of his work.
Other Writings
Besides his big history book, Robert Henry also wrote other things:
- He wrote an essay called "Revelation: The Most Effectual Means of Civilising and Reforming Mankind" in 1773.
- He translated a French book into English in 1761. The book was called "Origins of Laws, Arts and Science."
