Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gillespie, Thomas (1777-1844)
GILLESPIE, THOMAS (1777–1844), professor at St. Andrews, born at Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, in 1777, was educated at Wallace Hall School and Dumfries Academy, and at Edinburgh University. At the university he distinguished himself as a classical scholar and as a debater; at the conclusion of his college course he was licensed as a preacher, 4 Jan. 1810. On leaving college he acted as tutor in the family of Sir James Hay of Dunragit. In 1813 he was presented to the living of Cults, Fifeshire, where he devoted his leisure to literature. In 1824 he received the degree of LL.D. from Glasgow. In 1828 he was appointed assistant and successor to the professor of humanity at St. Andrews, and in 1836 he was elected to the professorship. He died at Dunino, near St. Andrews, on 11 Sept. 1844. He contributed numerous articles both in prose and verse to the leading periodicals, including essays in ‘Blackwood’ and in ‘Constable's Miscellany,’ and sketches in Wilson's ‘Tales of the Borders.’ In 1822 he published a volume of sermons, entitled ‘The Seasons contemplated in the Spirit of the Gospel.’ An ‘Analecta’ for the use of his class appeared in 1839. He was twice married; his second wife was daughter of the Rev. Dr. Campbell parish minister of Cupar, and sister to Lord-chancellor Campbell.
[Roger's Hist. of St. Andrews; Conolly's Eminent Men of Fife; Scott's Fasti, iv. 485.]