Thomas Somerville (minister) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas Somerville
His grave in Jedburgh Abbey
Born	9 March 1741 Hawick, Scotland
Died	16 May 1830 Jedburgh, Scotland

Thomas Somerville was an important Scottish minister, a person who studied old things (an antiquarian), and a scientist who did experiments for fun. He lived from 1740 to 1830. For many years, he was also the King's Chaplain in Scotland, which meant he was a special minister for the King.

Thomas Somerville's Life Story

His Early Years and Education

Thomas Somerville was born on March 9, 1740, in a town called Hawick in Scotland. His father, Rev William Somerville, was also a minister. Thomas grew up in the manse, which is the house where a minister lives.

He went to school in Hawick. When he was young, his father passed away. Thomas and his two sisters were then looked after by a family friend, Mr. Cranstoun.

After school, Thomas went to the University of Edinburgh. He studied to become a minister, learning about religion and theology.

Becoming a Minister

In 1764, Thomas was officially allowed to preach by the Church of Scotland. This meant he could become a minister.

While in Edinburgh, he had an accident. He fell from his horse and had to stay at a minister's house to recover. Because of this, he didn't like horses for the rest of his life!

It took some time for him to find a church where he could be a minister. During this time, he worked as a tutor. He taught the children of Sir Gilbert Elliot, 3rd Baronet, of Minto. Sir Gilbert later became a very important leader in India.

In 1767, Sir Gilbert helped Thomas get his first job as a minister. He became the minister for the local church in Minto. A few years later, in 1772, Thomas moved to Jedburgh. He stayed there as a minister for the rest of his long life.

Meeting Robert Burns

In May 1787, Thomas Somerville met the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. This happened when Burns visited Jedburgh.

Burns joked that Somerville loved to make puns, which are funny word plays. Somerville later said that Burns gave him a special gold-topped walking stick. However, it's more likely that Somerville bought the cane himself.

Later Achievements

Thomas Somerville was a very respected person. In 1789, the University of St Andrews gave him an honorary doctorate degree. This is a special award for people who have achieved great things.

In 1793, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a group of important scientists and thinkers in Scotland. Being a Fellow meant he was recognized for his knowledge and contributions.

Thomas Somerville lived to be 90 years old. He passed away on May 16, 1830, in his home in Jedburgh. He was buried in the beautiful grounds of Jedburgh Abbey.

His Family

In 1770, Thomas Somerville married Martha Charters. They had at least six children together.

One of their sons was named William Somerville. He became a doctor. William later married his cousin, Mary Greig. Mary spent a lot of her childhood living with Thomas and Martha. She grew up to be a very famous scientist and writer herself!