551 (1851); _I.L.N. 8 March 1851 p._ 200.
PIRIE, WILLIAM ROBINSON (2 son of George Pirie, D.D. minister
of Slains, Aberdeenshire). _b._ manse of Slains 26 July 1804;
studied at Univ. and King’s college, Aberdeen 1817–21, and
1821–5, D.D. 1844; licensed to preach by presbytery of Ellon
1825; minister of parish of Dyce 1830; minister of Greyfriars
church, Aberdeen 1846–7; professor of divinity in Marischal
college and univ. of Aberdeen 30 Dec. 1843 to 1860; hon.
professor of divinity and biblical criticism Aberdeen univ. 15
Sept. 1860 to 1876, and principal Dec. 1876 to death; moderator
of the general assembly 19 May 1864; the chief advocate for the
abolition of patronage in the Church of Scotland, which was
abolished by act of parliament 1874; author of The independent
jurisdiction of the church vindicated 1838; Some notice of the
rev. Andrew Gray 1840; An inquiry into the constitution, power,
and processes of the human mind 1858; The position, principles
and duties of the church of Scotland 1864; Natural theology, an
inquiry into the fundamental principles of religions, moral and
political science 1867. _d._ Aberdeen 3 Nov. 1885. _In memoriam,
W. R. Pirie_ (1888); _Scott’s Fasti Scoticanæ iii_, _part ii_,
_p._ 501, 516, 898.
PIRRIE, WILLIAM (son of George Pirrie, farmer). _b._ near
Huntly, Aberdeenshire 1807; educ. Marischal coll. and univ.
Aberdeen, and univ. of Edinb. and in Paris; M.A. Aberdeen 1825;
M.D. Edinb. 1829, hon. LL.D. 1875; lecturer on anatomy and
physiology in the joint medical schools of King’s and Marischal
colleges, Aberdeen 1830–9; regius professor of surgery in
Marischal college 1839–60; professor of surgery in univ. of
Aberdeen 1860–82; the leading surgeon in north Scotland for 20
years; known by sobriquet of The Baron; author of The principles
and practice of surgery 1852, 3 ed. 1873; On hay asthma and hay
fever 1867; author with Wm. Keith of Acupressure an excellent
method of arresting surgical hæmorrhage 1867. _d._ 253 Union st.
Aberdeen 21 Nov. 1882. _Medical times and gazette ii_ 681 (1882).
PISTRUCCI, BENEDETTO (2 son of Federico Pistrucci, judge of
the high criminal court of Rome). _b._ Rome 29 May 1784; a
gem-engraver at Rome 1800; went to Paris Dec. 1814, and to
London 1815; designed the St. George and the dragon on the
reverse of the gold coinage 1817, which is still in use; an
outside assistant at the mint 1816, acted as chief engraver
from 22 Sept. 1817, chief medallist 1828; engraved part of
the coinage at end of reign of George III, and all the coins
of early part of George IV; engraved the coronation medal of
George IV 1820–1, and of Victoria 1838; made the silver seal
of the duchy of Lancaster in 15 days by a new process of his
invention 1838; resided at the Mint 1817–49; made cameos and
intaglios for which he obtained high prices; made busts of the
duke of Wellington and of Pozzo di Borgo; was paid £3,500 for
the famous Waterloo medallion 1850. _d._ Flora lodge, Englefield
Green, near Windsor 16 Sept. 1855. _A. Billing’s Science of
gems_ (1875) 3, 224; _F. P. Weber’s Medals by foreign artists_
(1894) 62–7; _N. Carlisle’s Memoir of W. Wyon_ (1837) 43 _etc._;
_G.M. Oct. 1856 pp._ 653–6.
NOTE.--In the British museum with the shelf mark 10825 d. 28 is A
collection of letters, etc. from newspapers and magazines on B.
Pistrucci and W. Wyon as medallists.
PITCAIRN, DAVID. _b._ 1800; licensed 6 Oct. 1824; presbyterian
minister of Evie and Rendall, Kirkwall, Orkney islands 13 May
1830 to 29 Sept. 1846; D.D. of Edinb. univ. 24 April 1867;
resided at Torquay from 1846; author of Pastoral letters to his
parishioners 1840, 2 ed. 1847; Perfect peace, letters memorial
of J. W. Howell 1844, 10 ed. 1852; Christ our rest 1845; Zion’s
king, the second Psalm expounded 1851; The bud of promise, a
memoir of E. H. M. Graeme 1854; Pentecostal blessings 1862;
The ages of the earth 1868. _d._ 4 Jany. 1870. _Scott’s Fasti
Scoticanæ_, _vol._ 3 _part_ 1 _p._ 382.
PITCAIRN, SIR JAMES (eld. son of Robert Pitcairn, vicar of
Englishcombe, Somerset). _b._ Little Bedwin, Wilts. 1776;
F.R.C.S. 7 June 1798; surgeon to the forces in Holland 1799, and
in Egypt 1801; deputy inspector general of military hospitals in
Ireland 1803, and inspector general 2 July 1847 to 24 Aug. 1852,
when he retired on half pay; knighted 1837. _d._ 3 Haddington
road, Dublin 12 Jany. 1859.
PITCAIRN, ROBERT (2 son of Robert Pitcairn, writer to the signet
and principal keeper of the register of deeds). _b._ Edinburgh
1793; a writer to the signet 21 Nov. 1815; assistant to the
deputy clerk register in H.M.’s register house a long time,
one of the four official searchers of records for incumbrances
in the register house 1853 to death; employed in making an
Abridgment of the register of the great seal of Scotland
1824, for the Record commission; edited for the Abbotsford
club Historical memoirs of Mary, queen of Scots 1836; for the
Bannatyne club Criminal trials in Scotland 1833, and 3 other
works; for the Wodrow society The autobiography of J. Melvill
1842; he also edited Collections relating to the funeralls of
Mary, queen of Scots 1822; Historical account of the principal
families of Kennedy 1830. _d._ 9 Northumberland st. Edinburgh
16 July 1855. _Record commission, the case of Robert Pitcairn_
(1835).
PITCAIRN, THOMAS (son of Alexander Pitcairn, merchant). _b._
Edinburgh 6 Feb. 1800; educ. Edinb. divinity hall; assistant
presbyterian minister at Cockpen, Dalkeith 1828, then minister
1833–43; clerk to the synod of Lothian and Tweddale 1836; clerk
of Free church general assembly 1843; minister of Free church
at Bonnyrig, Dalkeith 1843 to death; edited Acts of the general
assembly of the church of Scotland 1843. _d._ Bonnyrig 21 Dec.