New Spalding Club > Thanage of Fermartyn including the district commonly called Formartine

Udny Academy and Parish School. 437
of boarders and scholars. He kept always a very efficient staff of teachers, amongst
whom, besides Dr. Thom, already mentioned, were James Melvin, afterwards LL.D.
and Rector of the Grammar School, Aberdeen, and his brother George, head-
master of Gordon's Hospital, and afterwards schoolmaster at Tarves, who began
their early labours at Udny. Like all schoolmasters of that period, Mr. Bisset
studied for the ministry of the Church of Scotland, studying partly in Edinburgh,
and in 1S26 he became minister of the small parish of Bourtie in Aberdeenshire.
The small amount of duty needed by the parish gave him leisure to continue his studies,
which, however, he only utilised for the education of his children. He took great
interest in public affairs, became an ardent politician, civil and ecclesiastical, on the
constitutional side. He was very zealous in every cause he espoused, indeed, the
force of character which enabled him, at so early an age at his father's death, to under-
take so serious responsibilites, never forsook him. He was instant in season and out of
season. He was a prominent figure in the Church courts during the prolonged struggle,
that ended in the secession of those who formed themselves into the Free Church of
Scotland. In 1850, his University of Marischal College conferred on him the degree of
D.D., and in 1862, he was chosen Moderator of the General Assembly, the highest
ecclesiastical position in Scotland.
Dr. Bisset was twice married, first, in 1829, to Mary Bannerman, elder daughter of
Rev. Mr. Lessel, minister of Inverurie ; and secondly to Elizabeth Sinclair, daughter of
Rev. William Smith, minister of Bower, in Caithness, and was survived by children of
both marriages. Dr. Bisset died on the morning of Sunday, September 8, 1862. Dr.
Bisset's family were —
I. James, married Isabel Smith of Ratting Dean, Sussex ; has issue.
1. Mary, married to Rev. John Davidson, minister of Inverurie, author of the
" Earldom of the Garioch."
2. Susan, married to H. C. Raikes, Indian Civil Service ; he died s. p.
3. Robina, married to H. C. Raikes.
4. Elizabeth, married to Dr. Henry Muscroft, Pontefract, and has issue.
On Mr. Bisset's appointment to Bourtie, his youngest brother, Udny Bisset, was
appointed his successor, and for some time carried on the Academy with success ; but
his health failing, the Academy was given up in 1834 or 35, after it had flourished most
successfully for fifty years.
Among those educated at Udny Academy were the following : —
Rev. Robert Adam, who was the son of poor parents in the neighbourhood, received
a portion of his education at Udny. He was born about 1770, and took his degree at
the University of Aberdeen. He was afterwards sent by some persons interested in his
welfare to St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, where he took the degree of B. A. He was subse-
quently ordained deacon and priest by Dr. Porteous, Bishop of London ; and in 1801
was appointed assistant to Dr. Abernethy-Drummond of Hawthornden, Bishop of Edin-
burgh. He was also chaplain to the Eari of Kellie. In 1809, he published an elaborate