Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 44.djvu/33

 Accordingly, on 27 Aug., accompanied by his friend, Ebenezer Henderson [q. v.], he sailed for Denmark, with the intention of going thence to India; but finding it impossible to carry out this intention, he remained in Northern Europe, and became a zealous and useful missionary there. Gradually his connection with the churches in Edinburgh was dissolved, and he was left to his own resources. He remained in Denmark until after the bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807, when he removed and settled in Stockholm. Here during the next five years he continued his labours among the natives of the northern kingdoms. The British and Foreign Bible Society afforded him aid in carrying out his plans (though he was at no time the society's salaried agent). In 1812 he removed to St. Petersburg, and on 1 Nov. 1817 he received the degree of doctor of theology from the university of Abo in Finland. In 1822 he withdrew from the British and Foreign Bible Society, and Prince Galitzin and other friends in St. Petersburg requested him to conduct the affairs of the Russian Bible Society. The Emperor Alexander granted him an annual salary of six thousand roubles. On the death of the emperor the party in power raised objections to the circulation of the scriptures. Ultimately, in 1825, the Emperor Nicholas issued ukases suspending the operations of the Bible Society, and placing the society under the control of the Greek church. Thereupon Paterson left Russia; but the emperor treated him with great kindness, and continued to him his pension for life. During his residence in Northern Europe he was connected with the work of translating and printing portions of the scriptures into Finnish, Georgian, Icelandic, Lapponese, Lettish, Moldavian, Russ, Samogitian, and Swedish.

On returning home he settled in Edinburgh, and served for many years as secretary for Scotland of the London Missionary Society, also acting as chairman of the committee of the Congregational Union. In 1850 he removed to Dundee, where he occasionally preached. He died at Kincaldrum, Forfarshire, on 6 July 1855. He married, first, at Stockholm, on 31 Aug. 1809, Katrine Margarate Hollinder, who died 7 March 1813, leaving two children, one of whom, Dr. George, born 18 March 1811, became congregational minister at Tiverton. Paterson married, secondly, on 19 April 1817, Jane, daughter of Admiral Samuel Greig, of the Russian navy; she was born in Russia on 26 Oct. 1783, and, from her knowledge of Russ and Russian dialects, was of much help to her husband in his work at St. Petersburg. She died on 19 Jan. 1820, leaving a daughter, who became the wife of Edward Baxter of Kincaldrum.

Paterson was the author of: 1. ‘A Letter to H. H. Norris, containing Animadversions on his Respectful Letter to the Earl of Liverpool on the Subject of the Bible Society,’ 1823. 2. ‘The Book for every Land: Reminiscences of Labour and Adventure in the Work of Bible Circulation in the North of Europe and in Russia.’ Edited, with a ‘Prefatory Memoir,’ by W. L. Alexander, 1858. The ‘Memoir’ is on pp. xi–xxxv.

[Norrie's Dundee Celebrities, 1873, pp. 162–4; Swan's Memoir of Mrs. Paterson, 1824.]  PATERSON, NATHANIEL, D.D. (1787–1871), author, was born in the parish of Kells, Kirkcudbrightshire, in 1787, and was the eldest son of Walter Paterson, stone-engraver, and grandson of Robert Paterson [q. v.], ‘Old Mortality.’ His mother was Mary Locke. He was educated at Balmaclellan, where the only prize he is known to have gained was one for cock-fighting, then a recognised school sport. In 1804, when sixteen years of age, he matriculated at Edinburgh University, and studied for the ministry of the church of Scotland. In 1821 he became minister of Galashiels, where he wrote ‘The Manse Garden’ (Glasgow, 1836), a work which passed through many editions. He enjoyed the friendship of Sir Walter Scott, but after a time explained to Scott that the invitations to Abbotsford being usually for Saturday, his preparation for Sunday services was interfered with. Sir Walter took no offence, but thenceforth invited him on some earlier day of the week. On 8 Feb. 1825 he married Margaret, daughter of Robert Laidlaw, Scott's friend, and George Thomson, the Dominie Sampson of ‘Guy Mannering,’ was one of his most constant visitors. In 1833 he was translated to the charge of St. Andrew's parish church, Glasgow. When, in 1843, the disruption took place in the church of Scotland, Paterson followed Dr. Chalmers; and in the autumn of that year he formed one of a deputation to the north of England to explain the principles of the free church and plead its cause. In 1844 he visited the southern counties. At the same time the many members of his congregation who with him joined the free church formed the congregation known as Free St. Andrew's, Glasgow, of which he remained minister till his death. In 1850 he was chosen moderator of the free church assembly, the highest honour which that church can bestow. His appear-