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BROWN, WILLIAM LAWRENCE, D.
D., an eminent theological and miscellaneous writer, was born, January 7,
1755, at Utrecht, where his father, the reverend William Brown, was
minister to the English congregation. In 1757, his father removed with his
family to St Andrews, in order to undertake the duties of professor of
ecclesiastical history; and the subject of our memoir, having commenced
his education under his father’s care, was placed successively at the
grammar-school and university of that city, entering the latter at the
early age of twelve. His native abilities, favoured by the fostering care
of his father, enabled him, notwithstanding his immature years, to pass
through his academical course with distinction; classical literature,
logic, and ethics, being the branches of study to which he chiefly devoted
his attention. After studying divinity for two years at St Andrews, he
removed to Utrecht, where he prosecuted the same study, and also that of
civil law. In 1778, having previously been licensed by the presbytery of
St Andrews, he succeeded his uncle as minister of the English church at
Utrecht; a field of exertion too narrow for his abilities, but which he,
nevertheless, cultivated with the same zeal and application which a
conscientious clergyman might be expected to bestow upon one more
extensive. Such spare time as his duties left to him, he employed in
attention to a few pupils whom he received into his house. He at the same
time enlarged his range of study, and occasionally made excursions into
France, Germany, and Switzerland. In 1786, he married his cousin, Anne
Elizabeth Brown, by whom he had five sons and four daughters.
The first literary effort
of Mr Brown, was an essay on the origin of evil, written for a prize
offered by the curators of the Holpian legacy at Utrecht, and which was
adjudged the second honour among the essays of twenty-five competitors,
that of being published at the expense of the trust. Soon after this,
namely, in 1784, the university of St Andrews conferred upon him the
degree of Doctor in Divinity. Dr Brown was successful in several other
prize essays, two of which were published, under the titles of "An
Essay on the Folly of Scepticism," London, 1788; and "An Essay
on the Natural Equality of Man," Edinburgh, 1793. The latter took a
more sober view of the subject than was generally adopted at the time of
its publication; and it accordingly became the means of introducing Dr
Brown to the notice of the British government. Previously to the armed
interposition of the Prussians in 1788, Dr Brown was exposed to so much
annoyance on account of his attachment to the dynasty of Nassau, that he
found it necessary to proceed to London, in quest of another situation.
The event alluded to, not only enabled him to retain his former office,
but caused his elevation to a professorship, newly erected in the
university of his native city, for moral philosophy and ecclesiastical
history. He unfortunately was not allowed sufficient time to prepare the
two elaborate courses of lectures required in this new situation; and, by
his extraordinary exertions to accomplish what was expected of him, laid
the foundation of ailments, from which he never afterwards recovered. His
inaugural discourse was published under the title of "Oratio de
Religionis et Philosophiae Societate et Concordia maxime Salutari."
Two years afterwards, he was nominated rector of the university; and on
depositing his temporary dignity, he pronounced an "Oratio de
Imaginatione in Vitae Institutione regenda," which was published in
1790. Though offered the Greek professorship at St Andrews, he continued
in Utrecht, till the invasion of Holland by the French, in the beginning
of 1795, when he was obliged to leave the country in an open boat, with
his wife and five children, besides some other relations. Notwithstanding
the severity of the season, the roughness of the weather, and the frail
nature of the bark to which so many lives were committed, he reached the
English coast in safety. In London, to which he immediately proceeded, he
met with a friendly reception from lord Auckland, to whom he had become
known during his lord ship’s residence as ambassador at the Hague, and
who now exerted himself so warmly in his favour, that he was, in the
course of a few months, appointed to succeed Dr Campbell, as professor of
divinity in the Marischal college, Aberdeen; to which honourable
appointment was soon after added, that of principal of the same college.
We are informed by the
writer of the life of Dr Brown, in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, that
"this new professorship imposed upon him a very serious task, that of
composing a course of theological lectures, extending over five sessions.
After a review of the different systems of religion which lay claim to a
divine origin, he discussed most amply the evidences and doctrines of
natural religion. He then proceeded to the evidences of revealed religion,
of which he gave a very full and learned view. The christian scheme formed
the next subject of an inquiry, in which the peculiar doctrines of
Christianity were very extensively unfolded. Christian ethics were also
explained; and it formed part of his original plan, to treat of all the
great controversies that have agitated the religious world. This portion
of the course was not, however, completed." Besides attending to the
duties of his chair, and of his principality, Dr Brown officiated as one
of the ministers of the West church in Aberdeen. A volume of his sermons
appeared in 1803. He also occasionally attended the General Assembly,
where his manly eloquence and impressive mode of speaking, caused him to
be listened to with great respect, though he never arrived at the
character of a leader. While discharging every public duty with zeal and
efficacy, he did not neglect his favourite pursuits of literature. In
1809, he published "Philemon, or the Progress of Virtue, a
poem," Edinburgh, 2 vols. octavo; and in 1816, appeared his greatest
literary effort, "An Essay on the Existence of a Supreme
Creator," Aberdeen, 2 vols. octavo. The latter was the successful
competing essay, among fifty, for Burnet’s first prize of £1250; the
second, of £400, being awarded to Dr Sumner, afterwards bishop of
Chester. Dr Brown also wrote a few pamphlets upon passing occurrences,
political and otherwise; and one or two articles in Latin, relating to
formalities in the university over which he presided. His last
considerable work was "A Comparative View of Christianity, and of the
other Forms of Religion which have existed, and still exist in the World,
particularly with regard to their Moral Tendency," Edinburgh, 2 vols.
octavo, 1826.
In addition to the
preferments already mentioned, Dr Brown was honoured, in 1800, with the
appointment of chaplain in ordinary to the king; and, in 1804, was
nominated dean of the Chapel-royal, and of the order of the Thistle. He
was, last of all, in 1825, appointed to read the Gordon course of lectures
on practical religion, in the Marischal college. Though thus bearing such
a multiplicity of offices, Dr Brown was, upon principle, opposed to
pluralities, and was, perhaps, only tempted to transgress the rule in his
own case, by the want of adequate endowments for his two chief offices,
those of divinity professor and of principal.
Dr Brown died, May 11,
1830, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. Besides his great talents and
acquirements, he was characterized by many excellent personal qualities.
His mind was altogether of a manly cast; and, though honoured with the
regards of a court, he was incapable of cowering to mere rank and station.
With some warmth of temper, he was open, sincere, and generous, and
entertained sentiments of unbounded liberality towards his fellow
creatures, of all ranks, and of all countries.
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