Robert Keith


1681 - 1757

Churchman, historian and Jacobite. Born in Uras (then Kincardineshire), Keith belonged to the family of the Earls Marischal. He was educated in Aberdeen. He worked as a tutor (1703-10) and was then admitted as a Deacon to the Scottish Episcopal Church. After serving as chaplain to the Earl of Errol and accompanying him to Europe, Keith settled in Edinburgh, where he served as a minister. He was ordained as Bishop of Caithness, Orkney and the Isles in 1727 and became Bishop of Fife in 1733. A staunch Jacobite, he corresponded with Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720-88) on ecclesiastical affairs.

Keith published his History of the Affairs of Church and State in Scotland in 1753, which dealt with the period of the Reformation, and also A Catalogue of Scottish Bishops (1755).

He died at his home, Bonnyhaugh House in Edinburgh, and was buried in the Canongate Kirkyard.


Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry arrow

If you have found this information useful please consider making
a donation to help maintain and improve this resource. More info...

By using our site you agree to accept cookies, which help us serve you better