CARSTAIRS, WILLIAM, an eminent Scottish divine,
whose merit and good fortune called him to act in great
scenes, and to associate with men to whose society and
intercourse his birth gave him few pretensions to aspire.
A small village in the neighbourhood of Glasgow was the
place of his nativity. His father, of whom little is known,
exercised the functions of a clergyman.
Young Carstairs turned his thoughts to the profession
of theology; and the persecutions and oppressions of go-
vernment, both in regard to civil and religious liberty,
having excited his strongest indignation, it became a mat-
ter of prudence that he should prosecute his studies in a
foreign university. He went accordingly to Utrecht; and
his industry and attention being directed with skill, opened
up and unfolded those faculties which he afterwards
employed with equal honour to his country and himself.
During his residence abroad he became acquainted with
Pensionary Fagel, and entered with warmth into the in-
terest of the Prince of Orange. On his return to Scotland
in order to obtain a license to teach doctrines which he
had studied with the greatest care, he became disgusted
with the proud and insolent conduct of Archbishop Sharpe,
and prepared to revisit Holland, where he knew that re-
ligious liberty was respected, and where he hoped he
might improve his condition by the connections he had
formed.
His expectations were not vain. His prudence, reserve,
and political address, were strong recommendations of
him to the Prince of Orange; and he was employed in
personal negotiations in Holland, England, and Scotland.
Upon the elevation of his master to the English throne,
he was appointed the king's chaplain for Scotland, and
employed in settling the affairs of that kingdom. Wil-
liam, who carried politics into religion, was solicitous that
episcopacy should prevail there as universally as in En-
gland. Carstairs, more conversant with the affairs of his
native country, saw all the impropriety of this project,
and the danger which would arise from enforcing it; and
by his reasonings, remonstrances, and entreaties, he over-
came the firmness of King William, who yielded to con-
siderations founded alike in policy and in prudence; so
that to Carstairs Scotland is indebted for the full estab-
lishment of its church in the Presbyterian form of go-
vernment.
The death of King William was a severe affliction to
him; and it happened before the prince had provided for
him with the liberality he deserved. He was continued,
however, in the office of chaplain for Scotland by Queen
Anne; and he was invited to accept the principality of the
university of Edinburgh. He was one of the ministers of
the city, and four times moderator of the general assembly.
Placed at the head of the church, he prosecuted its interest
with zeal and integrity. Nor were his influence and acti-
vity confined to matters of religion. They were exerted
with success in promoting the cultivation of the arts and
sciences. The universities of Scotland owe him obliga-
tions of the highest kind. He procured, in particular, an
augmentation of the salaries of their professors; a circum-
stance to which may be ascribed their reputation, as it
enabled them to cultivate with spirit the different branches
of knowledge.
A zeal for truth, a love of moderation and order, with
prudence and humility, distinguished Principal Carstairs
in an uncommon degree. His religion had no mixture of
austerity; his secular transactions were attended with no
imputation of artifice; and the versatility of his talents
made him pass with ease from a court to a college. He
was among the last who suffered torture before the privy
council, in order to make him divulge the secrets intrus-
ted to him, which he firmly resisted; and after the revolu-
tion, the instrument of torture called the thumbikins was
given to him as a present by the council. This excellent
person died in 1715; and in 1744 his State Papers and
Letters, with an account of his life, were published in one
volume 4to, by the Rev. Dr. McCormick.