Bonar, Horatius, 1808-1889

The Scottish divine and hymn writer Horatius Bonar was born in Edinburgh on 19 December 1808. He was the younger brother of John James Bonar (1803-1891) who preached in Greenock, and the older brother of Andrew Alexander Bonar (1810-1892). Horatius Bonar was educated at the Royal High School in the city and studied at Edinburgh University. On becoming a preacher he worked in Leith for a while before going to Kelso as minister of the North Church. He was an extremely popular preacher there and he became well-known throughout Scotland. While in Leith he had begun composing hymns and he also produced evangelical books. In 1883 he was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church. Horatius Bonar died in Edinburgh on 31 July 1889.

From the guide to the Letters of Horatius Bonar (1808-1889), 1853-1875, (Edinburgh University Library)

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