WILLIAM, an eminent Scottish divine, born at the village of Cathcart near Glasgow in 1649. He received the rudiments of his education at a school at Ormiston in East Lothian; but on commencing his studies for the church he removed to Edinburgh, and subsequently studied theology and philosophy at the University of Utrecht. While abroad he became acquainted with pensionary Fagel, and warmly espoused the interests of the Prince of Orange. On his return he became disheartened at the arbitrary proceedings of the Episcopal clergy, who were then high in the confidence of the king, and resolved immediately to retire to Holland; but he was specially brought back to stand his trial on a charge of having been accessory to the Rye-house plot, and of being the medium of communication between the Presbyterian party in Scotland and the exiles in Holland. On manifesting great reluctance to divulge the nature of the correspondence with which he had been intrusted, he was put to the torture, but refused to make any disclosures until he had received the assurance that his replies should not be taken in evidence against himself or his compatriots. Having received the king's pardon, he was dismissed, and retired to Holland, where he rose still higher in the favour of the Prince of Orange. On King William's accession to the throne he was appointed royal chaplain for Scotland, and contributed greatly to the firm establishment of the Presbyterian form of church government in that country. He still held his chaplaincy in the reign of Queen Anne; and while exercising considerable influence over the minds of the Scottish clergy in inducing them to approve of the Treaty of Union, he exerted himself strenuously to oppose the restoration of patronage in the church. In 1704 he was appointed principal and professor of divinity in the University of Edinburgh, in addition to the ministerial charge, first of the Greyfriars and afterwards of the High Church. He was four times chosen moderator of the General Assembly; and on the accession of George I, was sent on a deputation from the Assembly to congratulate the king. Cartas died in 1715, and in 1744 was published the volume of State Papers from which he is chiefly known. They were edited by the Rev. Dr M'Cormick.