Noteworthy Burials
- John Napier (1550–1617) of Merchiston, inventor of logarithms is buried in an underground vault on the north side of the church.
- Rev. David Williamson (1636–1706) known in Scots songs as "Dainty Davie". He was ousted from the church in 1665 as a Covenanter. He then served as a Captain on the rebel side at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge (1679). He was restored as minister of St. Cuthberts in 1689 and then rose to be Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1702.
- Charles Darwin (1758–1778), uncle of the naturalist Charles Darwin, was a talented medical student but fell ill and was buried in the Duncan family vault at the Chapel of Ease on the South side of the city, now known as the Buccleuch Parish Church Burying Ground.
- Alexander Nasmyth (1758–1840) Artist, architect, and inventor. His most notable painting is the much-copied portrait of Robert Burns. His son, James Nasmyth was also a prolific inventor, most famous for the steam hammer. His other son, Patrick Nasmyth continued the family line as an artist of note.
- George Meikle Kemp (1795–1844) master joiner, self-taught architect and designer of the Scott Monument. His stone bears some similarities to the monument.
- Thomas De Quincey (1785–1859) Author of Confessions of an English Opium-Eater. An addict himself, he was an acknowledged influence on many later authors, but he himself has now slipped from fame. Of those crediting De Quincey with influencing them probably the most notable is Edgar Allan Poe.
- The heart of Canadian sculptor Robert Tait McKenzie.
Read more about this topic: The Parish Church Of St Cuthbert
Famous quotes containing the word burials:
“Cole’s Hill was the scene of the secret night burials of those who died during the first year of the settlement. Corn was planted over their graves so that the Indians should not know how many of their number had perished.”
—For the State of Massachusetts, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)