David Leitch

David Leitch (or Leith) (born 1608) was a Scottish philosopher who was commissioned to create various paraphrases and served as chaplain to the army during the English Civil War and as well as to King Charles II.

Life

Leitch was born in 1607/8, the younger son of Rev Andrew Leitch of Maryton near Montrose on the Aberdeenshire coast. His brother was John Leitch the epigrammatist. He graduated MA from King's College, Aberdeen in 1624 and remained there for some years, first as a "Regent" (the equivalent of a Fellow) then as "Sub-Principal" (Deputy Principal) from 1632.

He is also said to have been a professor at King's College (this would be normal for the Sub-Principal) and in April 1635 was the official who presided over the funeral of Patrick Forbes, Bishop of Aberdeen.

In 1638 he was ordained as minister of Ellon, north of Aberdeen. At the instigation of the Covenant, he fled and sought protection of the King (Charles I), with whom he seems to have been personally acquainted, only returning to his ministry in June 1639. He gave a penitent sermon and swore allegiance to the Kirk in September 1640.

Family Leitch married Elspet Gordon and had at least three children:

David Leitch, burgess in Aberdeen (b.1655) and two daughters, Jean and Elizabeth.

Publications

Positiones Nonnulloe Philisophicoe (1633) Positiones Nonnulloe Logicoe et Philisophicoe (3 vols. 1634, 1635, 1636) Philosophia Illachrymans (1637) Theses Philosophicoe (1638) Parerga (Latin poems, (1657)