ROBERT LEIGHTON
Archbishop of Glasgow, Peacemaker.

Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae,
H Scott (1915) rev 1917, 1920
vol 7 p 323 Abp Glasgow, 1671

ROBERT LEIGHTON, D.D.,
formerly min. of Newbattle (cf. Vol. I., 332) Principal and Professor of
Divinity, Univ. of Edinburgh, 1653-61; went to London, where he was re-ord.
and consecrated (on his own choice) as Bishop of Dunblane 15th Dec. 1661;
pres. by Charles II. 7th June 1662; held Archbishopric of Glasgow in
commendam, but app. to the See by Charles II. 20th Nov. 1671; res. in 1672
(having failed to bring about his proposed ” accomodation” between the
upholders of Episcopacy and Presbytery), but not accepted till Aug. 1674,
when he returned to Edinburgh, and soon afterwards removed to Broadhurst,
Horsted Keynes, Sussex, the home of his sister, widow of Edward Lightmaker.
On 22nd June 1684, he journeyed to London for an interview with the Earl
of Perth, the Scottish Chancellor, and died of pleurisy at the Bell Inn,
Warwick Lane, three days afterwards. He had frequently expressed the wish
to die in an inn.He was aged 73, unmarr., and was buried in Horsted Keynes
church, beside his brother, Sir Elisha. He was the great peacemaker of the
Church of Scotland, a man of singular toleration and goodwill, fervent in
his piety, abundant in his charity. His character has everywhere called
forth the most sincere encomiums. He founded a bursary in Edinburgh Univ.
in 1663, and bequeathed another in divinity, besides funds for the support
of two bursars in Univ. of Glasgow, 1677 and 1684,and for the support of
two poor men in the Bishop’s Hospital there. His library he left to the
clergy of Dunblane, where 1200 volumes are still preserved. Thirty-one
volumes are also in the manse of Newbattle.