Editing Alexander Geddes

[[Image:The grave of Rev Alexander Geddes, St Marys Paddington.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|The grave of Rev Alexander Geddes, St Marys Paddington]]

'''Alexander Geddes''' (14 September 1737 &ndash; 26 February 1802) was a [[Scotland|Scottish]] theologian and scholar.

He was born at [[Rathven, Banffshire|Rathven]], [[Banffshire]], of [[Roman Catholic]] parentage, and educated for the priesthood at the local seminary of [[Scalan]], and at [[Paris]]; he became a priest in his native county.

His translation of the ''Satires'' of [[Horace]] made him known as a scholar, but his [[liberalism]] led to his suspension. He then went to [[London]], where he became known to [[Robert Petre, 9th Baron Petre|Baron Petre]], who enabled him to proceed with a new translation of the [[Bible]] for English Roman Catholics, which he carried on as far as the Book of Second Chronicles and the Prayer of Manasseh which was published in 2 volumes (1792–1797). A translation of ''[[Psalms]]'' was published in 1807.

This was followed by ''Critical Remarks on the Hebrew Scriptures'' (1800), in which he largely anticipated the German school of [[Higher Criticism]]. The result of this publication was Geddes's suspension from all ecclesiastical functions.

Geddes was also a [[poet]], and wrote ''Linton: a Tweedside Pastoral'', ''Carmen Seculare pro Gallica Gente'' (1790), in  praise of the [[French Revolution]].

He died without recanting, but received [[Absolution (religious)|absolution]] at the hands of a French priest, though public mass for his soul was forbidden by the ecclesiastical powers.

He is buried next to the south-east corner of St. Mary's Church in Paddington, [[London]].

==Publications==
{{Unitarian Translators}}
* The Holy Bible, or the Books accounted sacred by Jews and Christians, otherwise called the books of the Old and [[New Covenant]]; faithfully translated from corrected texts of the originals. With various readings, explanatory notes, and critical remarks. By Alexander Geddes. (J. Davis, London. 1797).
*[[English translations of Homer#Geddes|English translations of Homer]]

==External links==
*"[http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/GAG_GEO/GEDDES_ALEXANDER_1737_1802_.html  Geddes, Alexander (1737-1802)]," from ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', 11th Edition, 1911 (Online Encyclopedia asserted to have [[Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition#Versions of this public domain work claiming copyright|scanning errors]], like LoveToKnow below). ''Site © 2006 - Net Industries''. 
* [http://38.1911encyclopedia.org/G/GE/GEDDES_ALEXANDER.htm ''Alexander Geddes''] (LoveToKnow's Free Online Encyclopedia, © 2003, 2004 LoveToKnow.)
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04491c.htm History of Biblical Criticism (Higher)]
* [http://bibles.wikidot.com/geddes Geddes Bible Editions]

*A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

==References==

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Geddes, Alexander}}
[[Category:1737 births]]
[[Category:1802 deaths]]
[[Category:Scottish scholars and academics]]
[[Category:Scottish theologians]]
[[Category:18th-century theologians]]
[[Category:18th-century Scottish people]]
[[Category:People from Banffshire]]
[[Category:Scottish Roman Catholic priests]]
[[Category:Scottish translators]]
[[Category:Scholars of Greek language]]
[[Category:British biblical scholars]]
[[Category:Scottish classical scholars]]
[[Category:Scottish poets]]
[[Category:Scottish literary critics]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Aberdeen]]