William Colvill, sometimes speltWilliam Colville[1] (c.1612–1675) was a 17th-centuryScottish minister of theChurch of Scotland andscholar and was the Principal of theUniversity of Edinburgh from 1662 to 1675.
Colvill was educated at theUniversity of St Andrews and graduated MA in 1631.[2]
He was ordained as minister ofCramond Kirk just north-west ofEdinburgh in 1635. He translated toTrinity College Church in the city in 1639. He moved to theTron Kirk onChristmas Eve 1641. In the troubles of theEnglish Civil War he obtained the protection of theMarquess of Montrose and was viewed with suspicion for some years. He was suspended by theGeneral Assembly in July 1648 and formally deposed in July 1649. After this he went toHolland where he ministered at the English church in Utrecht.[3]
Colvill had originally been elected principal of the university in April 1652 following the death ofJohn Adamson. However, Colvill openly prayed for King Charles II in Edinburgh and was resultantly imprisoned inEdinburgh Castle, and was forbidden to take office byCromwell's Government. Therefore, the position was declared vacant again on 17 January 1653, with DrRobert Leighton being elected Principal instead. However, since Colvill had already given in his demission to his church and left the Netherlands, he was allowed a year's stipend (2000 Scots merks) for his trouble and expense.[3]
In November 1654 he was reponed by the Synod of Lothian and reallowed to minister, being reordained as minister of Perth. When Leighton resigned from the university to becomeBishop ofDunblane in 1662, Colvill left Perth and finally became Principal of Edinburgh University.
He was buried inGreyfriars Churchyard on 3 June 1675.[4]
He married Marion Brisbane and had several children:[3]
Following Marion's death he married Marion Fyfe and had one further son:[3]
Colvill was the author of a work entitledEthica Christiana, which was in considerable repute in those days.
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| Preceded by | Principals of the University of Edinburgh 1662–1675 | Succeeded by |
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