The Times/1945/Obituary/James Mackinnon

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

The Rev. James Mackinnon, Ph.D., D.D., who died at Forfar on July 12 at the age of 85, was Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical history in the University of Edinburgh from 1908 till 1930.

Dr. Mackinnon's wide outlook on the whole question of historical research gained him the enthusiasm of his classes. He taught church history not merely as an ecclesiastic but as one who recognized that this was only of the streams in the movement of the world. His many publications show the breadth of his interests. In 1900 he wrote "The History of Edward III"; this was followed two years later by "The Growth and Decline of the French Monarchy." Then came a "History of Modern Liberty" in three volumes (a fourth was published in 1942, and a fifth this year). In 1920 he issued the first volume of his work on "The Social and Industrial History of Scotland"; the second volume appeared in 1921; and the "Constitutional History of Scotland to the Reformation" in 1924. He next turned his attention to Luther and published the results of his researches in four volumes. After he retired he returned to some special studies in ecclesiastical history on which he had been preparing material for many years.

In 1886 Dr. Mackinnon married Miss Pauline Klein. They had one son, Mr. J. A. R. Mackinnon, Sheriff-Substitute of Forfarshire since 1932.