William Colvill

William Colvill, sometimes spelt William Colville [ [http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/colville.htm Colville ] ] (died 1675) was a Scottish clergyman and scholar and was the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1662 to 1675.

Colvill had originally been elected Principal of the University in 1652 on the death of John Adamson. However at this time, Colvill was minister of the English church at Utrecht, and it is thought that there was some obstruction on the part of Cromwell's Government that prevented him from taking possession of the office. Therefore the position was declared vacant again on 17 January 1653, with Dr Robert Leighton being elected Principal instead. However since Colvill had already given in his demission to his church and left Holland, he was allowed a year’s stipend for his trouble and expense.

When Leighton became Bishop of Dunblane in 1662, Colvill - having since returned to Scotland - finally became Principal.

Colvill was the author of a work entitled "Ethica Christiana", which was in considerable repute in those days.

References

External links

* [http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/colville.htm Colville family history]
* A. S. Wayne Pearce, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/6012 ‘Colville, William (d. 1675)’] , "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", Oxford University Press, 2004