Rev George Cook

Biographical Summary

Cook, George. ?-13/05/1845. Ref: 345. Male.

• Titles and British Honours: Rev.
• Place of Birth: Fife.
• Place of Death: St Andrews, Fife.
• Place of interment: St. Regulus Chapel, St. Andrews, Fife.
• Profession: Minister of Religion.
• Appointments Held: Licensed 1795; Minister 1796-1829 Laurencekirk; Professor 1829-45, Moral Philosophy, St Andrews University; Moderator 1825, Church of Scotland General Assembly.
• Undergraduate Studies: MA (St Andrews 1790).
• Postgraduate Studies: DD(1808).
• Publications: "Reformation in Scotland" 1811,"Church of Scotland" 1815, etc.
• Marital Status: Married Diana Shank.
• Mother: Janet Hill.
• Father: John Cook of Newburn FRSE 1739-1815.
• Other Family: nephew of John Hill FRSE 1747-1805 and George Hill FRSE 1750-1819.
• References: DNB 12, 1887, 65-6; Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae i, 397, iii 878-9, 898; Shapin 106; Anderson 1, 680-682; C Rogers 2, 1872, 136 & 294.
• Date of Election: 22/01/1816.
• Proposers: Andrew Duncan Jnr.& Snr, J Playfair,(Minute 20/11/1815 NLS Acc10,000/4) & ms Proposal 20/11/1815 Acc10,000/42).see note.
• Notes: Born December 1772. The ms proposal is seconded also by John Davidson.
• Fellow Type: OF.

SOURCE: Waterston, Charles D; Macmillan Shearer, A (July 2006). Biographical index of former fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1783-2002: Biographical Index. I. Edinburgh: The Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5. page 200

Other References

• Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation, Vol. V, page 477

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Inscription on a marble tablet inside the base of St Rule’s Tower, St Andrews. ‘Beneath this stone rest the mortal remains of the Rev George Cook DD, son of the late Rev John Cook, Professor of Moral Philosophy, St Andrews and Janet Hill, his wife. He was born the 22nd day of March 1773 and died the 13th day of May 1845. He was ordained Minister of Laurencekirk in 1795 and in 1828 was elected Professor of Moral Philosophy by members of the United Colleges of St Andrews and was chosen Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1825; and in 1830 was appointed Dean of the Most Ancient Order of the Thistle and Dean of the Chapel Royal. His Public Merits as the Historian of the Church of Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution and as the Guide of her Councils during the Dangers of these latter days, are commemorated in a recorded resolution of the General Assembly of 1845: His Faithfulness as a Christian Minister endeared him to the Flock among whom he laboured thirty four years. His warm and affectionate interest in his students and his zeal in promoting their improvement are gratefully remembered by them. He married in 1802 Diana, daughter of Alexander Shank of Castlerig, by whom he had seven children, whereof four sons and one daughter survived him. This stone was erected by his widow and children in affectionate remembrance of his domestic virtue’ All in upper case letters.