Modern English biography

551 (1851); _I.L.N. 8 March 1851 p._ 200. PIRIE, WILLIAM ROBINSON (2 son of George Pirie, D.D. minister of Slains, Aberdeenshire). _b._ manse of Slains 26 July 1804; studied at Univ. and King’s college, Aberdeen 1817–21, and 1821–5, D.D. 1844; licensed to preach by presbytery of Ellon 1825; minister of parish of Dyce 1830; minister of Greyfriars church, Aberdeen 1846–7; professor of divinity in Marischal college and univ. of Aberdeen 30 Dec. 1843 to 1860; hon. professor of divinity and biblical criticism Aberdeen univ. 15 Sept. 1860 to 1876, and principal Dec. 1876 to death; moderator of the general assembly 19 May 1864; the chief advocate for the abolition of patronage in the Church of Scotland, which was abolished by act of parliament 1874; author of The independent jurisdiction of the church vindicated 1838; Some notice of the rev. Andrew Gray 1840; An inquiry into the constitution, power, and processes of the human mind 1858; The position, principles and duties of the church of Scotland 1864; Natural theology, an inquiry into the fundamental principles of religions, moral and political science 1867. _d._ Aberdeen 3 Nov. 1885. _In memoriam, W. R. Pirie_ (1888); _Scott’s Fasti Scoticanæ iii_, _part ii_, _p._ 501, 516, 898. PIRRIE, WILLIAM (son of George Pirrie, farmer). _b._ near Huntly, Aberdeenshire 1807; educ. Marischal coll. and univ. Aberdeen, and univ. of Edinb. and in Paris; M.A. Aberdeen 1825; M.D. Edinb. 1829, hon. LL.D. 1875; lecturer on anatomy and physiology in the joint medical schools of King’s and Marischal colleges, Aberdeen 1830–9; regius professor of surgery in Marischal college 1839–60; professor of surgery in univ. of Aberdeen 1860–82; the leading surgeon in north Scotland for 20 years; known by sobriquet of The Baron; author of The principles and practice of surgery 1852, 3 ed. 1873; On hay asthma and hay fever 1867; author with Wm. Keith of Acupressure an excellent method of arresting surgical hæmorrhage 1867. _d._ 253 Union st. Aberdeen 21 Nov. 1882. _Medical times and gazette ii_ 681 (1882). PISTRUCCI, BENEDETTO (2 son of Federico Pistrucci, judge of the high criminal court of Rome). _b._ Rome 29 May 1784; a gem-engraver at Rome 1800; went to Paris Dec. 1814, and to London 1815; designed the St. George and the dragon on the reverse of the gold coinage 1817, which is still in use; an outside assistant at the mint 1816, acted as chief engraver from 22 Sept. 1817, chief medallist 1828; engraved part of the coinage at end of reign of George III, and all the coins of early part of George IV; engraved the coronation medal of George IV 1820–1, and of Victoria 1838; made the silver seal of the duchy of Lancaster in 15 days by a new process of his invention 1838; resided at the Mint 1817–49; made cameos and intaglios for which he obtained high prices; made busts of the duke of Wellington and of Pozzo di Borgo; was paid £3,500 for the famous Waterloo medallion 1850. _d._ Flora lodge, Englefield Green, near Windsor 16 Sept. 1855. _A. Billing’s Science of gems_ (1875) 3, 224; _F. P. Weber’s Medals by foreign artists_ (1894) 62–7; _N. Carlisle’s Memoir of W. Wyon_ (1837) 43 _etc._; _G.M. Oct. 1856 pp._ 653–6. NOTE.--In the British museum with the shelf mark 10825 d. 28 is A collection of letters, etc. from newspapers and magazines on B. Pistrucci and W. Wyon as medallists. PITCAIRN, DAVID. _b._ 1800; licensed 6 Oct. 1824; presbyterian minister of Evie and Rendall, Kirkwall, Orkney islands 13 May 1830 to 29 Sept. 1846; D.D. of Edinb. univ. 24 April 1867; resided at Torquay from 1846; author of Pastoral letters to his parishioners 1840, 2 ed. 1847; Perfect peace, letters memorial of J. W. Howell 1844, 10 ed. 1852; Christ our rest 1845; Zion’s king, the second Psalm expounded 1851; The bud of promise, a memoir of E. H. M. Graeme 1854; Pentecostal blessings 1862; The ages of the earth 1868. _d._ 4 Jany. 1870. _Scott’s Fasti Scoticanæ_, _vol._ 3 _part_ 1 _p._ 382. PITCAIRN, SIR JAMES (eld. son of Robert Pitcairn, vicar of Englishcombe, Somerset). _b._ Little Bedwin, Wilts. 1776; F.R.C.S. 7 June 1798; surgeon to the forces in Holland 1799, and in Egypt 1801; deputy inspector general of military hospitals in Ireland 1803, and inspector general 2 July 1847 to 24 Aug. 1852, when he retired on half pay; knighted 1837. _d._ 3 Haddington road, Dublin 12 Jany. 1859. PITCAIRN, ROBERT (2 son of Robert Pitcairn, writer to the signet and principal keeper of the register of deeds). _b._ Edinburgh 1793; a writer to the signet 21 Nov. 1815; assistant to the deputy clerk register in H.M.’s register house a long time, one of the four official searchers of records for incumbrances in the register house 1853 to death; employed in making an Abridgment of the register of the great seal of Scotland 1824, for the Record commission; edited for the Abbotsford club Historical memoirs of Mary, queen of Scots 1836; for the Bannatyne club Criminal trials in Scotland 1833, and 3 other works; for the Wodrow society The autobiography of J. Melvill 1842; he also edited Collections relating to the funeralls of Mary, queen of Scots 1822; Historical account of the principal families of Kennedy 1830. _d._ 9 Northumberland st. Edinburgh 16 July 1855. _Record commission, the case of Robert Pitcairn_ (1835). PITCAIRN, THOMAS (son of Alexander Pitcairn, merchant). _b._ Edinburgh 6 Feb. 1800; educ. Edinb. divinity hall; assistant presbyterian minister at Cockpen, Dalkeith 1828, then minister 1833–43; clerk to the synod of Lothian and Tweddale 1836; clerk of Free church general assembly 1843; minister of Free church at Bonnyrig, Dalkeith 1843 to death; edited Acts of the general assembly of the church of Scotland 1843. _d._ Bonnyrig 21 Dec.