James Brown (Scottish clergyman)
Encyclopedia
James Brown was a clergyman in the Scottish Episcopal Church
, notable as one of a few Jacobite
dissenters who refused to abandon their allegiance to the House of Stuart
when directed to do so in 1788.
James Brown was born around 1734. The son of a Jacobite farmer who died in the Battle of Culloden
in 1746, he retained the same Jacobite allegiances throughout his life. He married Helen Taylor, daughter of a Presbyterian minister, and they had a son, Robert
, who would become a notable botanist.
Brown was minister at Montrose
in 1788 when Charles Edward Stuart
died. The Scottish Episcopal Church had long supported the House of Stuart
, but found it impossible to support Charles' heir, his brother Henry Benedict Stuart
, who was a cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
. Accordingly, the bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church met and agreed to recognise George III. 25 May 1788 was set as the day upon which services were to include prayers for King George III for the first time, and on that day the directive was followed by all but two ministers, Brown and Charles Rose the Bishop of Dunblane and Dunkeld.
Around 1790, Brown moved to Edinburgh
, where he became pastor to the remaining Jacobite dissenters. On presenting himself to the old and senile Rose, it is said that Rose consecrated him a bishop. When questioned later, Rose denied having done so, suggesting that perhaps his sister had. Rose certainly had no authority to consecrate Brown, as the canon
required no fewer than three consecrating bishops. Brown's alleged consecration was declared null and void, and he was blamed for the affair, having, it was said, taken advantage of Rose's senility in order to advance his own position. The following year Rose died, making Brown the last remaining minister to the Jacobite dissenters. He ordained one Donald Mackintosh a deacon before dying himself later that year. Mackintosh continued the ministry for some years, but as it was no longer possible to ordain anyone, the ministry died with Mackintosh.
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
, notable as one of a few Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
dissenters who refused to abandon their allegiance to the House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
when directed to do so in 1788.
James Brown was born around 1734. The son of a Jacobite farmer who died in the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
in 1746, he retained the same Jacobite allegiances throughout his life. He married Helen Taylor, daughter of a Presbyterian minister, and they had a son, Robert
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
, who would become a notable botanist.
Brown was minister at Montrose
Montrose, Angus
Montrose is a coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles north of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers...
in 1788 when Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
died. The Scottish Episcopal Church had long supported the House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
, but found it impossible to support Charles' heir, his brother Henry Benedict Stuart
Henry Benedict Stuart
Henry Benedict Stuart was a Roman Catholic Cardinal, as well as the fourth and final Jacobite heir to publicly claim the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Unlike his father, James Francis Edward Stuart, and brother, Charles Edward Stuart, Henry made no effort to seize the throne...
, who was a cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Accordingly, the bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church met and agreed to recognise George III. 25 May 1788 was set as the day upon which services were to include prayers for King George III for the first time, and on that day the directive was followed by all but two ministers, Brown and Charles Rose the Bishop of Dunblane and Dunkeld.
Around 1790, Brown moved to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where he became pastor to the remaining Jacobite dissenters. On presenting himself to the old and senile Rose, it is said that Rose consecrated him a bishop. When questioned later, Rose denied having done so, suggesting that perhaps his sister had. Rose certainly had no authority to consecrate Brown, as the canon
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
required no fewer than three consecrating bishops. Brown's alleged consecration was declared null and void, and he was blamed for the affair, having, it was said, taken advantage of Rose's senility in order to advance his own position. The following year Rose died, making Brown the last remaining minister to the Jacobite dissenters. He ordained one Donald Mackintosh a deacon before dying himself later that year. Mackintosh continued the ministry for some years, but as it was no longer possible to ordain anyone, the ministry died with Mackintosh.