Joseph McCormick (minister)


The Very Rev Joseph McCormick FRSE FSA Doctor of Divinity was a Scottish clergyman who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1782 and was a joint founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783.

Life

He was born in St Andrews on 22 January 1733, one of six children to Rev John McCormick, a local minister, and his wife, Anna Drew.
He studied divinity at St Andrews University and graduated MA in 1750. He was ordained to preach in the Church of Scotland in 1756.
From 1783 he served as principal of St Salvators and St Leonards Colleges at St Andrews University. From 1788 he also served as dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland.
He died on 17 June 1799. He is buried in the graveyard of St Andrews Cathedral. The grave lies on the wall to the west of the central tower.

Family

He married Mary Simson in 1770. They had six children.