Andrew Malcom

Andrew George Malcom (15 September 1782 – 12 January 1823) was an Irish Presbyterian minister and hymn-writer.

Biography Malcom was born at Hill Hall House, County Down, on 15 September 1782. He was the second son of James Malcolm (d. 3 October 1805), who was ordained minister of Drumbo, County Down, on 24 December 1764, in succession to his uncle, Andrew Malcom (d. 2 March 1763). His mother was Fanny, third daughter of Andrew Kennedy, presbyterian minister of Mourne, County Down. Through his mother he was the great-grandson of George Lang (d. 25 January 1702), the first presbyterian minister of Newry.

He was educated at Glasgow, where he graduated M.A. On 11 March 1807 he was ordained by Bangor presbytery as minister of Dunmurry, County Antrim. He was not related to his predecessor at Dunmurry, John Malcome. He resigned Dunmurry on 11 September 1808, and was installed minister of first Newry, County Down, on 14 March 1809. His ministry at Newry was one of marked success, and his position as a leader of educational and charitable movements was highly influential. His theology was Arian, of an uncontroversial type. Early in 1820 he received the degree of D.D. from Glasgow. On 27 June 1820 he was elected moderator of the general synod of Ulster. On 28 June 1821 the general synod approved an exposition of the principles of presbyterianism from his pen, and ordered it to be prefixed as an introduction to their forthcoming code of discipline. This order was not carried out, the introduction being set aside in committee after Malcom's death. He died of fever at Newry on 12 January 1823.

Family He married Eleanor Hunter, by whom he had five sons and two daughters. His children reverted to what they believed to be the original spelling of his surname - i.e. Malcolm. His eldest son, James Malcolm (b. 1811, d. 26 December 1855), was unitarian minister successively at Carrickfergus, County Antrim; Billingshurst, Sussex; Boston, Lincolnshire; and Chester. His fourth son, Andrew George Malcolm, M.D. (b. 7 December 1818, d. 1857), was physician to the Royal Hospital, Belfast.

Publications He published: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, &c., Newry, 1811, 12mo.