William Dunlop (principal) facts for kids

William Dunlop (born around 1654, died March 8, 1700) was an important Scottish leader. He was a Covenanter, which means he supported a special agreement (covenant) about the Church of Scotland. He was also an adventurer and became the head, or Principal, of the University of Glasgow from 1690 to 1700. William Dunlop was also known for helping to start a Scottish settlement in America called Stuart Town.

William Dunlop's Early Life

William Dunlop was born in Paisley, Scotland. His father, Alexander Dunlop, was a minister in the Church of Scotland. His mother was Elizabeth Mure. William grew up during a difficult time when Covenanters faced persecution. Both his parents were even put in prison for their beliefs.

Becoming a Tutor and Political Supporter

As a young man, William Dunlop became a tutor for the family of William Cochrane, a Covenanter leader. In 1679, during a rebellion called the Westland Rising, William worked as a messenger for the Whigs. The Whigs were a political group trying to make a deal with the king's army. This rebellion ended at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge. William Dunlop was thought to be involved, but he was not charged with any crime.

Adventures in Carolina

In the early 1680s, a man named Anthony Ashley Cooper, who owned land in the Province of Carolina in America, was friendly towards Protestants who didn't follow the main church. He encouraged people to move to Carolina, promising religious freedom. In 1682, some Scottish leaders bought land in South Carolina.

Journey to Stuart Town

In July 1684, a ship called the Carolina Merchant sailed from Scotland with 149 passengers. William Dunlop was on board, along with other settlers and some Covenanters who had been sent away from Scotland. The ship arrived in Charles Town (now Charleston) in October 1684. Many people got sick with malaria after arriving, including William Dunlop.

In November, a smaller group of 51 people traveled south to Port Royal. They chose a spot for their new Scottish town, which they named Stuart Town. This town was located near where Beaufort, South Carolina, is today.

Life in the New Settlement

By March 1685, Stuart Town had houses and a local defense group. William Dunlop served as a major in this group and also as the Presbyterian minister for the settlement. During this time, William Dunlop was involved in the use of enslaved African people for labor in the colony. He also sold eleven enslaved people who had run away to the Spanish.

The Scottish settlers had bought their land from the English, but they started trading with local Native American groups, like the Yamasee, in ways that caused problems. Together with the Yamasee, the Scots attacked a Spanish mission and captured 22 Timucuan people to be used as slaves. The Governor of Carolina ordered the arrest of the Scottish leader, but William Dunlop wrote to the Governor, apologizing for their actions and promising to follow the rules.

Stuart Town is Attacked

On August 17, 1686, Spanish soldiers attacked Stuart Town. This might have been revenge for the attack on the Spanish mission, or simply because the Spanish did not want the Scots there. Three Spanish ships with 100 soldiers surprised the settlers. Most of the settlers were sick and could not fight back, so they escaped into the forest. The Spanish looted the town for three days, killed animals, and burned the entire village.

The Spanish then started moving towards Charles Town, burning English homes along the way. But a hurricane hit, destroying two of their ships. The third ship returned to St. Augustine. William Dunlop and some of the people who survived went back to Charles Town.

It's not clear exactly when William Dunlop returned to Scotland. However, records show he was still in the Carolina area in April 1687, possibly trying to set up trade again with Native Americans. By 1690, he was back in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Leading the University of Glasgow

After returning to Scotland in 1690, William Dunlop was appointed a minister. In December of that year, he became the Principal of the University of Glasgow. This might have happened because of his brother-in-law, William Carstares, who was an advisor to King William II of Scotland.

As Principal, William Dunlop did a great job getting more money and support for the university from the King and the Scottish Parliament. He held this important position until he died in 1700.

Other Important Roles

In the 1690s, William Dunlop helped uncover a plot against King William II. On January 31, 1693, he was given the title of Historiographer Royal for Scotland. This meant he was the official historian for the Scottish Crown.

In the late 1690s, a company was formed in Scotland to start another colony, known as the Darien scheme. William Dunlop invested about £1,000 of his own money in this plan and convinced the University of Glasgow to invest a similar amount. He also committed the university to help pay for rebuilding a church that had been destroyed by lightning.

William Dunlop passed away on March 8, 1700.

William Dunlop's Family

William Dunlop married Sarah Carstares (1650–1733). Sarah was the daughter of John Carstares, who was also a Covenanter. Sarah's mother, Janet Mure, was William Dunlop's mother's sister, which means William and Sarah were first cousins. They shared a grandfather, William Mure.

Before William left for Carolina in 1684, they lived in Glasgow and had three sons: Jocke, Sandie (Alexander), and William. Sarah stayed in Rotterdam, Netherlands, while William was in Carolina. She took care of their children and managed William's affairs, writing him many detailed letters. These letters are now kept in the National Library of Scotland.

Two of their sons became important scholars:

• Alexander Dunlop (1684–1747) became a Professor of Greek at the University of Glasgow.
• William Dunlop (1692–1720), also known as William the Younger, became a Professor of Church History at the University of Edinburgh.