Caird, John, 1820-1898

Scottish divine.

John Caird was born in Greenock on 15 December 1820. He was the brother of the philosopher Edward Caird (1835-1908). He was educated in Greenock and in his father's engineering office before studying at Glasgow University from which he graduated in 1845. He then prepared himself for the Church and was appointed to the Parish of Newton-on-Ayr . In 1847 he was Minister at Lady Yester's, Edinburgh, and then from 1849 at Errol, Perthshire, where he stayed until 1857 when he was appointed to Park Church, Glasgow. In 1857 too, Caird preached before Queen Victoria at Balmoral. In 1860 he was given the honorary degree of D.D. by Glasgow University, and in 1862 he was appointed Professor of Divinity at Glasgow University. On the completion of the new buildings on Gilmore Hill, he revived the university chapel. Caird was appointed Principal of Glasgow University in 1873. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Edinburgh University in 1884. His publications include the sermon given at Balmoral entitled Religion in common life and Introduction to the philosophy of religion (1880). Professor John Caird died in the home of his brother at Greenock on 30 July 1898.