John, a Scottish Episcopal clergyman, but better known as a poet, and the author of *Tullochgorum*, was born at Balfour, in the parish of Birse, and county of Aberdeen, on the 3d of October 1721. His father, John Skinner, was parish schoolmaster there, and had married the widow of Donald Farquharson of Balfour. About two years after the birth of this their only son, the mother died, and Mr Skinner removed to the parish of Echt, in the same county, where he continued to discharge the duties of parish schoolmaster for upwards of fifty years. He had the character of being a very efficient teacher, and is said to have "fitted out more young men for the university than most country schoolmasters of his day." By a second marriage which he contracted he had a numerous family.

John received the earlier part of his education at his father's school, and made so rapid progress, especially in the Latin language, that when only thirteen he gained a considerable bursary at the annual competition in Marischal college. For the intimate knowledge of the Latin tongue, which he afterwards displayed in his writings, he was, doubtless, in great measure indebted to the careful training of his father. After completing his academical curriculum at the university, he acted for a few months as teacher in Kemnay, and afterwards became assistant schoolmaster in the neighbouring parish of Monymusk. While here some of his poetical effusions having come under the notice of the lady of Sir Archibald Grant, the proprietor of the parish, she generously took him into her favour, placed the library at his command, and afforded "him in the house of Monymusk every accommodation for prosecuting his studies, and improving his mind in the attainment of useful learning." Here also he enjoyed the friendship and fellowship of an Episcopal clergyman, and was thus led to connect himself with the Scottish Episcopalian communion. In June 1740 he accepted an invitation to become tutor to the only son of Mr Sinclair of Scalloway, a gentleman of considerable property in Shetland. In consequence of the death of his pupil's father, he only remained here about twelve months, but within that time he wooed and wedded Grace, eldest daughter of Mr Hunter, the only Episcopal clergyman in these islands. Returning to Aberdeenshire, he completed his studies for the ministry, and was ordained a presbyter of the Episcopal Church, by Bishop Dunbar, at Peterhead. A vacancy having occurred in the congregation at Longside, he accepted an unanimous call to be their pastor; and in November 1742, when only twenty-one years of age, he entered upon the charge, which he continued to hold for nearly sixty-five years. Soon after his settlement at Longside, perceiving the sufferings that his neighbours frequently endured for want of medical attendance, there being no practitioner within 4 or 5 miles of Longside, he set himself to the study of medicine; and with the aid of an eminent physician in Aberdeen (Dr Thomas Livingston), who approved of his design, he soon acquired such a knowledge of the healing art as enabled him to afford to the poor suffering under disease such relief as they could not otherwise have easily obtained, and the want of which might sometimes have proved fatal. Nor were his labours confined merely to the members of his own congregation, but he cheerfully administered relief to all within his reach, ever refusing to accept of any fee for his services.

After the rebellion of 1745, the Episcopalians being in general Jacobites, were subjected to the most barbarous treatment. Their clergy, in particular, were special objects of persecution. Their houses were plundered, their chapels destroyed, and their very lives endangered by bands of ruthless soldiers. To avoid falling into their hands, Mr Skinner had frequently to resort to stratagems; and one evening, on returning home from visiting at some distance, "he found his house in the possession of a military party; some of them guarding the door with fixed bayonets, and others searching the several apartments, even the bed-chamber where Mrs Skinner was lying-in of her fifth child." They "pillaged the house of everything they could carry with them, hardly leaving a change of linen to father, mother, or child in the family." The chapel with all its furniture was burned; and a lady of some rank is said to have manifested her zeal, by riding in triumph round the blazing pile, and shouting to the infuriated soldiers to "Hold in the Prayer Books." For several years the congregation had no place to meet in for public worship but the clergyman's house; and to prevent his flock from being scattered, Mr Skinner published a small tract, entitled a *Preservative against Presbytery*. In consequence of the penal enactments against Episcopacy in Scotland, Mr Skinner could only minister to his flock with the utmost caution; and in 1753 he was apprehended and subjected to six months' imprisonment in Aberdeen jail, for officiating to more than four persons besides his own family.

For some years before and after his imprisonment he had devoted much of his leisure time to the study of the Hebrew language; and the first fruit of his labours in this field was a *Dissertation on Jacob's Prophecy*, published in 1757. About 1758, with the view of bettering his straightened circumstances, he entered upon a farm in the neighbourhood—Mains of Ludquharin; but after a hard struggle of nearly seven years, he gave it up in disgust. The next considerable work which Mr Skinner published was *An Ecclesiastical History of Scotland, from the First Appearance of Christianity in that Kingdom to the Present Time, in a Series of Letters to a Friend*, 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1788.

During the autumn of 1799 he had the misfortune to lose his wife, who had been the beloved partner of his joys and sorrows for the long term of fifty-eight years. After this event the weight of years continued to press more and more heavily upon him, and at length, at the pressing invitation of his son, Bishop Skinner, he agreed to come to Aberdeen. Resigning his flock to the care of another, and bidding adieu to the scene of his labours for so long a period, he came to Aberdeen on the 4th of June 1807. But he did not long enjoy his changed circumstances, for, after a slight illness, he expired without a struggle or a groan, on the 16th of the same month, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. In compliance with his own request, his remains were interred in the churchyard of Longside; and a marble monument was erected to his memory by the members of his congregation.

Mr Skinner was a man of a very amiable and cheerful disposition, and is said by Burns to be "one of the worthiest of mankind." In his lowly cottage at Linshart, with its *but and ben*, he passed his days contented and happy, as he has sung in his *Old Man's Song*, which is entirely descriptive of his own condition and feelings. He possessed great fluency in conversation, and a rich fund of wit and humour, that made his company always desirable and pleasant. He had no mean share of learning, and was frequently consulted by Dr Gleig, when acting as editor of a previous edition of this work. In the composition of Latin verse he had attained to great facility and considerable skill; and in the Hebrew language his knowledge was profound and critical. Of his songs some have been and still are very popular. His *Tullochgorum*, said by Burns to be "the best Scotch song Scotland ever saw," will exist as long as the language in which it is written. *John o'Badenyon* and the *Eowie wi' the Crookit Horn* have also enjoyed a great share of popularity. Speaking of his poetical effusions, he says, in one of his letters to Burns, "A small portion of taste in this way (poetry) I have had almost from childhood, especially in the old Scottish dialect, and it is as old a thing as I remember my fondness for *Chyrste-Kirk on the Green*, which I had by heart ere I was twelve years of age, and which, some years ago, I attempted to turn into Latin verse. While I was young I dabbled a good deal in these things, but on getting the black gown I gave it pretty much over, till my daughters grew up, who, being all tolerably good singers, plagued me for words to some of their favourite tunes, and so extorted those effusions which have made a public appearance beyond my expectations, and contrary to my intentions; at the same time, that I hope there is nothing to be found in them uncharacteristic or unbecoming the cloth, which I would always wish to see respected." Not long after his death his theological works appeared in two volumes, with a life of the author prefixed, and soon after a third volume, containing a miscellaneous collection of fugitive pieces of poetry, &c. Very recently (1859) his songs and poems have appeared in a small volume, with a life by H. G. Reid.