Letters of John Tulloch (1823-1886)

The material consists of: letter from Tulloch to Dempster noting 'a meeting of the Education Board' and how he 'must be in Edinburgh if possible'; letter talking of his engagements and how busy he is; and, letter from Tulloch to Hedman.

The Scottish theologian John Tulloch was born on 1 June 1823 at Dron, near Bridge of Earn, Perthshire. He was educated in Perth and at Madras College, St. Andrews, and he studied at St. Andrews University and at Edinburgh University. He was licensed as a preacher by Perth presbytery in 1844 and in 1845 was ordained as a Minister at St. Paul's, Dundee. In 1847 Tulloch went to Germany, visiting Hamburg, Berlin, and Wittenberg, and the year following he began literary work writing for periodicals. In 1849 he became Minister at Kettins, Angus, where he stayed until 1854. During this time he continued writing too, and in 1854 he was appointed to the post of Principal and Primarius Professor of Theology at St. Mary's College, St. Andrews University. In 1858 Tulloch went to Paris and established a church there for Scottish residents of the city, and later in the year he visited Germany again. In 1859 he delivered a series of lectures on Luther and other leaders of the Reformation at the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution, and the same year he was appointed as one of Her Majesty's chaplains in Scotland. By the time of his appointment in 1875 as Chief Clerk of the General Assembly, Tulloch had become the most prominent churchman in Scotland, and in 1878 he was Moderator of the General Assembly. In 1882 he became Dean of the Chapel Royal and Dean of the Thistle. John Tulloch died in Torquay on 13 February 1886.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of national biography. Vol. 19. Stow-Tytler. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1909.

Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

The local Indexes show references to Tulloch related material (check the Indexes for more details): letters to D. Laing inviting him to receive an honorary degree from St. Andrews University, 1862, at La.IV.17; and, letter of Tulloch (?John) D.D. to Sir C. J. Pearson, 1884, at Gen. 756, no.282.

In addition, the UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes several locations of Tulloch related material.