Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Man, James
MAN or MAIN, JAMES (1700?–1761), philologist, born about 1700 at White wreath, in the parish of Elgin, Morayshire, was educated first at the parish school of Longbride, and afterwards at King's College, Aberdeen, where he graduated M.A. in 1721. He was then appointed schoolmaster of Tough, Aberdeenshire, and in 1742 master of the poor's hospital in Aberdeen. He proved a very useful superintendent of the hospital, to which at his death in 1761 he left more than half the little property he had accumulated.
Man's zeal for the character of George Buchanan led him to join the party of Scottish scholars who were dissatisfied with Thomas Ruddiman's edition of Buchanan's works published in 1715. Man exposed the errors and defects of Ruddiman's edition in 'A Censure and Examination of Mr. Thomas Ruddiman's Philological Notes on the Works of the great Buchanan . . . more particularly on the History of Scotland . . . containing many particulars of his Life,' 8vo, Aberdeen, 1753. This treatise, which extends to 574 pages, is learned and acute, but very abusive. Ruddiman replied in his ' Anti-crisis,' 1754, and in 'Audi alteram partem,' 1756 [see Ruddiman, Thomas].
Man made collections for an edition of Arthur Johnston's poems, which were in the possession of Professor Thomas Gordon of Aberdeen, and was encouraged by many presbyterian ministers to undertake a history of the church of Scotland. He only completed an edition of Buchanan's 'History of Scotland,' which was issued at Aberdeen in 1762.
[Chalmers's Life of Ruddiman, p. 248.]