Henry Charteris

He was the eldest son of Henry Charteris, Scottish printer, was educated at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with an MA 1587. He was a student in the first class taught by Robert Rollock, which numbered four future professors, two of whom, Charteris and Patrick Sands, became principals. Ten years later, on the death of Rollock, Charteris was appointed Principal, having been recommended by Rollock on his deathbed.

To the principalship was then attached the professorship of divinity, and the salary, which had been four hundred, was increased in 1601 to six hundred marks. In 1617, when James VI and I visited Scotland, a disputation was held before him at Stirling Castle by the professors of the university, but Charteris declined to take part in it. Among the royal puns on this occasion, James is said to joked on Charteris, 'His name agreeth very well unto nature, for charters contain much matter yet say nothing, but put great purposes in men's mouths.'

On 20 March 1620 Charteris resigned his office, having been called to be minister of North Leith. On 19 April 1627 he was recalled to fill the chair of professor of divinity, with a salary of a thousand merks and a house. He died in July 1628. He wrote only a revision of the Latin life by Robertson, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, of Principal Rollock, published by the Wodrow Society in 1826.

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Charteris, Henry (1565-1628)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.