Elphinstone, WILLIAM,

Elphinstone, WILLIAM, a celebrated Scottish prelate, and founder of King's College, Aberdeen, was born in 1431. He was the son of William Elphinstone, a canon of Glasgow, and archdeacon of Teviotdale—a natural son, for the marriage of ecclesiastics was then prohibited. Elphinstone studied at the university of Glasgow, where he took his degree of M.A. in 1452, some time later receiving priest's orders. He spent nine years on the Continent, and so highly distinguished himself in the study of law that he was appointed professor in the university of Paris, and afterwards at Orleans. He returned to Scotland, and was made successively official-general of the diocese of Glasgow (1471-72), rector of the university (1474), and official of Lothian in 1478, 'then probably,' says Mr Cosmo Innes (Sketches of Early Scottish History, Edin. 1861), 'the second judicial office in the kingdom.' He was made Bishop of Ross in 1481, and of Aberdeen in 1483; was several times engaged in embassies, and for a few months before the death of James III. held the office of chancellor of the kingdom. Under James IV. he was employed on a mission to the Continent, and seems to have been keeper of the Privy Seal from 1492 till his death. He applied himself to the faithful discharge of his episcopal functions, endeavouring to reform the clergy, the service, and the ritual of the church. It appears to have been chiefly through his influence that the first printing-press—that of Chepman and Millar—was established in Scotland. The college of Aberdeen was founded in 1500, and dedicated to St Mary, a name afterwards changed to King's College. Additions to the cathedral and a stone bridge over the Dee were also due to his energy and liberality. The fatal battle of Flodden, 9th September 1513, broke the spirit of Elphinstone, who was never seen to smile after. He died in Edinburgh, 25th October 1514, and was buried before the high altar of the chapel of King's College which he had founded. His Breviarium Aberdonense, printed in 1509-10, was reprinted in two volumes quarto at London in 1853.