August 1 in Scottish History

On this day in 1724 Sir Patrick Hume, Lord Marchmont, the Scottish statesman, died. Imprisoned for his opposition to James II's policies against Scottish Presbyterians, he later escaped to Europe where he became one of William of Orange's chief lieutenants. Following the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688, he was appointed Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and played a vital role in securing William's rule in Scotland.

On 1 August 1545 Andrew Melville, the Church reformer, founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, Principal of Glasgow University and St Mary's College, St Andrews, was born. Melville is viewed as the successor to John Knox as the leader of Scottish Protestanism. His work, the 'Second Book of Discipline', advocated Presbyterian, rather than Episcopal government, which brought him into conflict with his monarch, James VI, who sought to control the Scottish Church through his bishops. Melville was also a keen advocate of education in Scotland, and is credited with helping to reform Scottish universities through the introduction of European teaching methods.

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