Thomas Innes (historian) facts for kids

Thomas Innes (born 1662 – died 28 January 1744) was a Scottish priest and historian. He was a Roman Catholic, which is a branch of Christianity. Thomas Innes studied at the Scots College, (Paris), a famous school in France. Later, he became the vice-principal of this college. He wrote two important books: Critical Essay on the Ancient Inhabitants of the Northern Parts of Britain (published in 1729) and Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland, 80 to 818 (published much later in 1853).

Who was Thomas Innes?

Thomas Innes was born in a place called Drumgask in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was the second son of James Innes and the younger brother of Lewis Innes. In 1677, when he was about 15, he went to Paris, France, to study at the College of Navarre. He also joined the Scots College in 1681.

His Journey to Priesthood

Thomas Innes began his journey to become a priest in 1684. He was officially made a priest on 10 March 1691. After this, he spent a few months at a seminary (a school for priests) near Paris. In 1692, he returned to the Scots College. There, he helped his older brother, Lewis, organize old church records from Glasgow. These records were stored at the college and another monastery in Paris.

In 1694, he earned his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Paris. For two years, he worked as a priest in a parish called Magnay in France. Then, in 1697, he went back to the Scots College.

Returning to Scotland and Back to Paris

In the spring of 1698, Thomas Innes returned to Scotland. He worked as a priest for three years in Inveravon, Banffshire. In October 1701, he went back to Paris. He became the head of studies at the Scots College and also helped with missions. He stayed there for another twenty years.

Some people thought he might have been a Jansenist, which was a religious movement at the time. This was because he was friends with people like Charles Rollin. His brother, Lewis, even had to officially state that Thomas did not agree with certain ideas that were criticized by the Pope.

Research and Later Life

After a long time away, Thomas Innes visited Scotland again. He wanted to gather information for his books. In 1724, he was in Edinburgh, doing research in a large library. In December 1727, he was made vice-principal of the Scots College in Paris. He passed away there on 28 January 1744.

What did Thomas Innes write?

Thomas Innes shared his research on Scottish history with other scholars. Scholars are people who study a lot. He helped historians like Robert Keith with information for his book about Scottish bishops. Another historian, George Grub, said that Innes was against certain church ideas but was a fair historian.

Here are his main works:

• A Critical Essay on the Ancient Inhabitants of the Northern Parts of Britain or Scotland: This book was published in two volumes in London in 1729. It talked about the Romans, Britons, and especially the Scots in ancient Britain. It also included old handwritten documents. This book is what Thomas Innes is most famous for.
• Epistola de veteri apud Scotos habendi Synodos modo: This was a letter written in Latin in 1735 about how church meetings were held in Scotland long ago.
• The Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland: This book was edited by George Grub and published in 1853. It was based on a manuscript (a handwritten book) that belonged to Bishop James Kyle.

His Collections and Letters

Thomas Innes had many handwritten notes and collections about Scottish history. Five volumes of these are now kept in the library at Edinburgh University. Other collections were with Bishop Kyle in 1853. Many of his letters, especially those to Harry Maule, can be found in other historical books.

Some people thought he wrote a book called 'Life of King James II', but it was probably written by his brother, Lewis Innes.

Thomas Innes's Legacy

Thomas Innes's work is still important today. An academic journal (a type of magazine for scholars) called The Innes Review is named after him. This journal has been published since 1950 by the Scottish Catholic Historical Association.