Renwick, James, the last of the martyrs of the Covenant, was born at Moniaive, Dumfriesshire, 15th February 1662. He attended Edinburgh University with a view to the ministry, but was denied his degree, as he refused the oath of allegiance; and, after witnessing the deaths of Cargill and others of the martyrs, he resolved to embrace the cause for which they suffered. He was chosen by the 'Societies,' as the bands of men devoted to the Covenant were called, to proceed to Holland to complete his studies in 1682, was ordained at Groningen in 1683, and at once proceeded to Scotland, where his first sermon was preached at Darmead Muir in the same year. His life was now exposed to great hazards; he was obliged to move from place to place, and was often reduced to great destitution. In 1684 he published his Apologetic Declaration, for which he was outlawed. When James II. came to the throne in 1685 Renwick with 200 men went to Sanquhar, and published a declaration rejecting him. A reward of £100 was offered for his capture, he was hunted from place to place, and made many hairbreadth escapes, but was at last captured in Edinburgh. He was condemned and executed, 17th February 1688.
See Shield's Life, Renwick's Choice Collection of Sermons, &c. (1777), Simpson's Life of Renwick (1843).