Michael Geddes


Michael Geddes LL.D. was a Scottish clergyman of the Church of England and historian.

Life

He was born in Scotland about 1650, and educated at the University of Edinburgh, where he took the degree of M.A. in 1668. He was incorporated at Oxford on 11 July 1671, as one of the first four Scots who benefited by Bishop John Warner's exhibitions intended for Balliol College. These scholars were first placed in Gloucester Hall, but in 1672 they were moved to Balliol.
In 1678 Geddes went to Lisbon as chaplain to the English factory. In 1686 he was forbidden by the Inquisition to continue his functions, although he pleaded a traditional privilege, founded on the treaty between England and Portugal. The English merchants wrote immediately to Henry Compton, bishop of London, to assert their rights; but before their letter reached its destination Geddes was suspended by the ecclesiastical commissioners appointed by James II. Matters had to await the arrival of Charles Scarborough, the English envoy, and Geddes returned in May 1688 to England,.
Gilbert Burnet as bishop of Salisbury collated Geddes to the chancellorship of his cathedral on 12 June 1691. The Lambeth degree of LL.D. was conferred on Geddes, 16 April 1695, by Archbishop Thomas Tenison. He died in the early part of 1713.

Works

His works are: