Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bonar, Archibald
BONAR, ARCHIBALD (1753–1816), divine, fifth son of John Bonar [q. v.], minister first at Cockpen and then at Perth, was born at Cockpen on 23 Feb. 1753, and educated at the high school and university of Edinburgh. He was licensed to preach an 29 Oct. 1777, ordained minister of the parish of Newburn, Fife, on 31 March 1779, and translated to the North-west Church, Glasgow, on 17 July 1783. His health compelled him to resign this charge, and on 19 April 1785 he was settled in the parish of Cramond, where he died on 8 April 1810. He was twice married: (1) on 15 Aug. 1782 to Bridget, eldest daughter of the Rev. Mr. Black, minister of Perth, who died on 4 Jan. 1787: and (2) on 16 Aug. 1792 to Ann, daughter of Andrew Bonar, and had issue two sons and three daughters. He wrote: 1. 'Genuine Religion the best Friend of the People,' 1787; and 2. 'Two Volumes of Sermons,' 1815-17: the second volume was published after his death, to which a memoir by his brother James [q. v.] is prefixed.
[Family papers in possession of Horatius Bonar, W.S., Edinburgh; Memoir pref. to Sermons, vol. ii. 1817; Scott's Fasti Eccl. Scot. pt. i. 135.]