Carstares, WILLIAM

Carstares, WILLIAM, a distinguished political and ecclesiastical character of the 17th century, who took a very active part in bringing about the Revolution of 1688, was born at Cathcart, near Glasgow, February 11, 1649. He entered the university of Edinburgh in 1663, where he displayed a remarkable aptitude for learning, and graduated in 1667. Carstares went to study theology at Utrecht (1669), where his scholarship, polite address, knowledge of men, and great political information, especially regarding his own country, recommended him to the notice of the Prince of Orange, who chose him as his confidential adviser in all matters relating to Britain. In 1672 he went to London; in 1675 he was arrested and examined before Lauderdale for alleged 'tampering in several matters tending to the disturbance of the public peace,' and was kept prisoner in Edinburgh Castle till 1679. In 1682, being in England on a mission of observation from Holland, he was employed to negotiate between the English and Scotch conspirators a general rising in England and Scotland, Shaftesbury, Russell, and Argyll being the leaders. He knew of the Rye House Plot, but did not approve of it. He was arrested at Tenterden, Kent, conveyed to Edinburgh, and put to the torture of the boot and thumb-screw; a deposition was extracted from him as to his knowledge of Argyll's plot, which, in spite of assurances to the contrary, was immediately used in the trial of Baillie of Jerviswood. After an imprisonment of a year and a half, at London, Edinburgh, and Stirling, he returned to Holland about the beginning of 1685; was appointed second minister of the English church at Leyden (1686) and chaplain to the Prince of Orange, with whom he had constant and confidential intercourse. He accompanied him as chaplain in the invasion of 1688, and after the prince had been firmly established as William III., Carstares was instrumental in effecting a reconciliation between him and the Scottish Church, when the ill advice of other councillors had nearly led to an open rupture. From 1693 to the death of the king in 1702 he could not have had more influence in Scottish affairs if he had been prime-minister of the country; his authority in church matters was such, that he was popularly called 'Cardinal Carstares' by the Jacobites. He was elected principal of the university of Edinburgh in 1703. In 1704 he was presented to the church of Greyfriars, and was appointed Moderator of the next General Assembly, an office to which he was four times elected in the course of eleven years. His great influence was used in procuring the passage of the Treaty of Union. He died 28th December 1715, deeply regretted by the whole nation, leaving a high reputation for tact and ability in ecclesiastical policy, as well as for sincere piety and unbounded private charity. See Life of Carstares, by Rev. Dr Story (1874).