Alexander Carlyle

Alexander Carlyle (26 January 1722 – 28 August 1805) was a Scottish church leader, and autobiographer. He went by the nickname of "Jupiter Carlyle", on account of his personal appearance. His autobiography is of particular interest for the background it provides to understanding the Scottish Enlightenment. In his autobiography, Carlyle recalls the Porteous Riots of 1736, and his friendship with Adam Smith, David Hume, Charles Townshend and John Home, the dramatist, for witnessing the performance of whose tragedy Douglas he was censured in 1757. Carlyle was a member of The Poker Club, whose members included many of the leading figures of the Enlightenment.

Life

Alexander Carlyle was born in Cummertrees, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, the son of the local minister, and was brought up in Prestonpans, near Edinburgh. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh (M.A. 1743), Glasgow and Leiden. He was a witness to the Battle of Prestonpans during the Jacobite uprising of 1745, when the Jacobite rebels defeated the English army. Carlyle was a part of the Edinburgh militia - on the side of the Union and the Government forces and fearful of the Jacobites.

"It was not long before we arrived at Cockenzie, where, under the protection of my guard, I had an

opportunity of seeing this victorious army. In general they were of low stature and dirty, and of a contemptible appearance. The officers with whom I mixed were gentleman-like, and very civil to me, as I was on an errand of humanity. I was conducted to Locheil, who was polished and gentle, and who ordered a soldier to make all the inquiry he could about the

medicine-chests of the dragoons. After an hour's search, we returned without finding any of them, nor were they ever afterwards recovered. This view I had of the rebel army confirmed me in the prepossession that nothing but the weakest and most unaccountable bad conduct on our part could have possibly given them the victory. God forbid that Britain should ever again be in danger of being overrun by such a despicable enemy, for, at the best, the Highlanders were at that time but a raw militia, who were not cowards."

From 1748 until his death he was minister at Inveresk in Midlothian. He rose to eminence as leader of the moderate or "broad" Church section, and as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1770 and Dean of the Chapel Royal in 1789. As an ecclesiastical leader, he was closely associated with William Robertson, Principal of the University of Edinburgh.

"The celebrated Dr Hutchison of Glasgow, who was the first that distinguished himself in that important branch of literature, was now beginning his career, and had drawn ample stores from the ancients, which he improved into system, and embellished by the exertions of an ardent and virtuous mind. He was soon followed by Smith, who had been his scholar, and sat for some years in his chair ; by Ferguson at Edinburgh ; by Reid and Beattie, which last was more an orator than a philosopher; together with David Hume, whose works, though dangerous and heretical, illustrated the science, and called forth the exertions of men of equal genius and sounder principles." (excerpt from his autobiography)

Carlyle was a keen observer of the politics of the time, both home and foreign. His political views never swerved; he consistently and resolutely resisted not only innovation, but "the mere raising of the faintest question of the necessity of matters being as they are". In ecclesiastical matters he was a moderate, meaning that he supported toleration towards the Established Church of England - a doctrine in stark contrast to that prevalent in his youth, which considered Episcopacy to be one of the great national sins for which Divine vengeance might be anticipated. Politically, he supported the Union with England, and felt some genteel disgust at the manners and habits of Highlanders.