JOHN

See also:

• JOHN JAMIESON (1759-1838)
• JAMIESON, ROBERT (c. 1780-1844)

JAMIESON (1759-1838)  , Scottish lexicographer, son of a minister, was born in Glasgow, on the 3rd of March 1759 . He was educated at Glasgow University, and subsequently attended classes in Edinburgh . After six years' theological study, Jamieson was licensed to preach in 1789 and became pastor of an Anti-burgher congregation in Forfar; and in 1797 he was called to the Anti-burgher church in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh . The union of the Burgher and Anti-burgher sections of the Secession Church in 1820 was largely due to his exertions . He retired from the ministry in 183o and died in Edinburgh on the 12th of July 1838 . Jamieson's name stands at the head of a tolerably long list of works in the Bibliotheca britannica; but by far his most important book is the laborious and erudite compilation, best described by its own title-page: An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language; illustrating the words in their different significations by examples from Ancient and Modern Writers; shewing their Affinity to those of other Languages, and especially the Northern; explaining many terms which though now obsolete in England were formerly common to both countries; and elucidating National Rites, Customs and Institutions in their Analogy to those of other nations; to which is prefixed a Dissertation on the Origin of the Scottish Language . This appeared in 2 vols., 4t0, at Edinburgh in 18o8, followed in 1825 by a Supplement, in 2 vols., 4t0, in which he was assisted by scholars in all parts of the country . A revised edition by Longmuir and Donaldson was issued in 1879–1887 .