Editing Hugh Binning (section)

==Personal life==
[[File:Sir James Dalrymple of Stair.jpg|thumb|[[James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair|Sir James Dalrymple of Stair]], President of the Court of Session, Created 1st Viscount Stair]]
Hugh Binning was the son of John Binning of Dalvennan, [[Straiton]], [[South Ayrshire]].{{sfn|Scott|1920|p=411}} and Margaret M'Kell. Margaret was the daughter of Matthew McKell,{{sfn|Scott|1920|p=230-231}}<ref name="kindle-works7">Binning, Hugh; Kindle Locations 20469-20474</ref>
<ref group="note">"Matthew M’Kell, was a minister in the parish of [[Bothwell]], near Glasgow. "After having been, on different occasions brought before the Privy council, and imprisoned, he was, on the 8th of January, 1674, upon his refusing to engage not to preach, ordered to confine himself to the parish of [[Carluke]], and security was required from him that he would appear before the Council at their summons&nbsp;... He died at Edinburgh, in March 1681". (Works of Hugh Binning: Kindle Locations 20469-20474)</ref> 
who was a minister in the parish of Bothwell, Scotland, and sister of Hugh M'Kell, a minister in Edinburgh.<ref name="kindle-works8">Binning, Hugh; Kindle Locations 20476-20478</ref><ref group="note">Some authors suggest that Matthew M'Kell was either the grandfather or uncle to Hugh M'Kail (sometimes Hugh M'Kell), which would make Hugh M'Kail a brother-in-law to Hugh Binning. The spelling of names was not as precise in those days, e.g. when describing Hugh Binning in the same document, there are variations of the spelling of the Binning name. Hugh M’Kell was arrested for being concerned in the insurrection at [[Pentland Rising]]. Hugh M'Keil was imprisoned and tortured (his foot was mangled to the point of compound fractures using the [[Boot (torture)|boot]]). In the end, M'Kell was executed in Edinburgh on 22 December 1666 because he would not sign the [[Test Act]]—because his preaching would not conform to the Anglican tradition. "The address of young M’Kail on the scaffold concluded with these sublime expressions—"“Farewell, father and mother, friends and relations. Farewell the world, and all delights. Farewell meat and drink. Farewell sun, moon and stars. Welcome God and Father! Welcome sweet Lord Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant! Welcome blessed Spirit of grace, and God of all consolation! Welcome glory! Welcome eternal life! Welcome death!" We are told by Kirkton that “when Mr. M’Kail died, there was such a lamentation as was never known in Scotland before, not one dry cheek upon all the street or in all the numberless windows in the market place". It was discovered afterwards, that [[Alexander Burnet]], then the archbishop of Glasgow, had in his possession at the time, a letter from the king, forbidding any more blood to be shed. But to the disgrace of his sacred profession, and of his feelings as a man, "Burnet let the execution go on, before he produced his letter, pretending there was no council day between". (Binning, Hugh (24 March 2011) The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning (Kindle Locations 20474-20487))</ref>{{sfn|Howie|Carslaw|1870|p=354-364}}<ref name="Scots Worthies">{{cite book |last=Howie |first=John |title=The Scots Worthies |volume=1 |date=1830 |publisher=W. R. M'Pun |location=Glasgow |pages=309–319 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCFBAAAAcAAJ&q=matthew+m%27kail&pg=PA313 |via=Google Books |access-date=21 January 2013 |chapter=Hugh M'Kail}}</ref> Binning was born on his father's estate in Dalvennan. The family owned other lands in the parishes of Straiton and [[Colmonell]] as well as [[Maybole]] in [[Carrick, Scotland|Carrick]].<ref name="jardine">{{cite web |title=Renwick's Intercepted Letter of 1685: John Binning of Dalvennan, Mrs Binning, Edinburgh and Eaglesham |url= http://drmarkjardine.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/renwicks-intercepted-letter-of-1685-john-binning-of-dalvennan-mrs-binning-edinburgh-and-eaglesham/ |publisher=Jardine's Book of Martyrs |first=Mark |last=Jardine |date= 15 February 2012 |access-date=19 January 2013}}</ref>

A precocious child, Binning was admitted to the study of philosophy at the [[University of Glasgow]] at age thirteen. Binning has been described as "an extraordinary instance of precocious learning and genius."<ref>{{cite book |title=A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen ... Embellished with ..., Volume 1 |year=1835 |publisher=Blackie & Son |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=18-ZKOzhn7AC&q=%22an+extraordinary+instance+of+precocious+learning+and+genius.%22&pg=PA208}}</ref>

In 1645, [[James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair]], who was Hugh's master (primary professor) in the study of philosophy, announced he was retiring from the University of Glasgow. Dalrymple  was afterward President of the Court of Session, and Viscount Stair. After a national search for a replacement on the faculty, three men were selected to compete for the position. Binning was one of those selected, but was at a disadvantage because of his extreme youth and because he was not of noble birth. However, he had strong support from the existing faculty, who suggested that the candidates speak extemporaneously on any topic of the candidate's choice.  After hearing Hugh speak, the other candidates withdrew, making Hugh a regent and professor of philosophy, while he was still 18 years old.<ref name="worthies2">Scottish Worthies p 203</ref>{{rp|203}}

On 7 February 1648, (at the age of 21) Hugh was appointed an Advocate before the Court of Sessions (an attorney).  In the same year, he married Barbara Simpson (sometimes called Mary), daughter of James Simpson a minister in Ireland. Their son, John, was born in 1650.<ref name="Works of Hugh Binning" />

Binning became a minister on 25 October 1649.{{sfn|Scott|1920|p=411}} As minister of Govan, he was the successor of William Wilkie. His ordination took place on 8 January 1649, when [[David Dickson (minister)|Mr David Dickson]], one of the theological professors at the College of Glasgow, and author of ''Therapeutica Sacra'', presided.{{sfn|Leishman|1840|p=682}} He was ordained in January, at the age of 22, holding his regency until 14 May that year. {{sfn|Scott|1920|p=411}} At that time Govan was a separate town rather than part of Glasgow.

Hugh died around September 1653 and was buried in the churchyard of Govan, where [[Patrick Gillespie (minister)|Patrick Gillespie]], then principal of the University of Glasgow, ordered a monument inscribed in Latin, roughly translated:<ref>Binning, Hugh (24 March 2011). ''The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning'' (Kindle Locations 990-992). Kindle Edition.</ref>
{{blockquote|Here lies Mr. Hugh Binning, a man distinguished for his piety and eloquence, learned in philology, philosophy, and theology, a Prelate, faithful to the Gospel, and finally an excellent preacher.  In the middle of a series of events, he was taken at the age of 26, in the year of our Lord 1653. Alive, he changed the society of his own land because he walked with God.  And if you wish to make other inquires, the rest should keep silence, since neither you nor the marble can comprehend it.}}

Hugh's widow, Barbara (or Mary), then remarried James Gordon, an Anglican priest at Cumber in Ireland.  Together they had a daughter,Jean who married Daniel MacKenzie, who was on the winning side of the [[Battle of Bothwell Bridge]] serving as an ensign under Lieutenant-Colonel William Ramsay (who became the third [[Earl of Dalhousie]]), in the Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot.<ref name="jardine" />

Binning's son, John Binning, married Hanna Keir, who was born in Ireland. The Binnings were [[Covenanters]], a resistance movement that objected to the return of Charles&nbsp;II (who was received into the Catholic Church on his deathbed).  They were on the losing side in the 1679 [[Battle of Bothwell Bridge]]. Most of the rebels who were not executed were exiled to the Americas; about 30 Covenanters were exiled to the Carolinas on the Carolina Merchant in 1684. After the battle, John and Hanna were separated.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Departed: The Covenanters Banished on the Carolina Merchant in 1684 |first=Mark |last=Jardine |date=25 July 2012 |url=http://drmarkjardine.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/the-departed-the-covenanters-banished-on-the-carolina-merchant-in-1684 |access-date=17 January 2013}}</ref>

In the aftermath of the battle at Bothwell Bridge, Hugh Binning's widow (now Barbara Gordon) tried to reclaim the family estate at Dalvennan by saying that John and his wife owed his stepfather a considerable some of money.  The legal action was successful and Dalvennan became the possession of John's half-sister Jean, and her husband Daniel MacKenzie.<ref name="jardine" /> In addition, Jean came into possession of Hanna Keir's property in Ireland.

By 1683, Jean was widowed. John Binning was branded a traitor, was sentenced to death and forfeited his property to the Crown. John's wife (Hanna Keir) was branded as a traitor and forfeited her property in Ireland.  In 1685, Jean "donated" the Binning family's home at Dalvennan and other properties, along with the Keir properties, to Roderick MacKenzie, who was a Scottish advocate of [[James II of England|James&nbsp;II (James&nbsp;VII of Scotland)]], and the [[baillie]] of [[Carrick, Scotland|Carrick]]. According to an act of the Scottish Parliament, Roderick MacKenzie was also very effective in "suppressing the rebellious, fanatical party in the western and other shires of this realm, and putting the laws to vigorous execution against them".<ref>{{cite web |title= Ratification in favour of Mr Roderick MacKenzie of Dalvennan |publisher=Parliamentary Register, Charters: Ratifications |date=16 June 1685 |url= http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1685/4/125 |access-date=19 January 2013}}</ref>

Since Bothwell Bridge, Hanna had been hiding from the authorities. In 1685, Hanna was in Edinburgh where she was found during a sweep for subversives and imprisoned in the [[Tolbooth]] of Edinburgh, a combination city hall and prison. Those arrested with Hanna were exiled to North America, however, she developed [[dysentery]] and remained behind. By 1687, near death, Hanna petitioned the [[Privy Council of Scotland]] for her release; she was exiled to her family in Ireland, where she died around 1692.<ref name="jardine" />
 
In 1690, the Scottish Parliament rescinded John's fines and forfeiture, but he was unable to recover his family's estates, the courts suggesting that he had relinquished his claim to Dalvennan in exchange for forgiveness of debt, rather than forfeiture.<ref>{{cite web |title= Remit to the committee for fines and forfeitures in favour of Mr. Roderick MacKenzie, advocate, anent the gift of forfeiture of the lands of Dalvennan |publisher=Parliamentary Register, Prodedure: remit to committee |date=22 July 1690 |access-date=19 January 2013 |url=http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1690/4/180}}
</ref>

There is little documentation about John after his wife's death. John received a small income from royalties on his father's works after parliament extended copyrights on Binning's writings to him.  However, the income was not significant and John made several petitions to the Scottish parliament for money, the last occurring in 1717.  It is thought that he died in [[Somerset]] county, in southwestern England.{{sfn|Anderson|1877|p=301}}

He died of [[Consumption (disease)|consumption]] at the age of 26 on September 1653. He was remarkably popular as a preacher, having been considered "the most accomplished philosopher and divine in his time, and styled the Scottish [[Cicero]]." He married (cont. 17 May 1650), Mary (who died at Paisley in 1694) and had a son, John of Dalvennan. She was the daughter of Richard Simson, minister of Sprouston. After John's early death Mary married her second husband, James Gordon, minister of Comber, in Ireland.{{sfn|Scott|1920|p=411}} A marble tablet, with an inscription in classical Latin, was erected to his memory by his friend [[Patrick Gillespie (minister)|Mr Patrick Gillespie]], who was then Principal of the University of Glasgow. It has been placed in the vestibule of the present parish church. The whole of his works are posthumous publications.{{sfn|Leishman|1840|p=684}}

He was a follower of [[James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair|James Dalrymple]]. In later life, he was well known as an [[evangelical Christian]].<ref>[[Andrew
Pyle (philosopher)|Andrew Pyle]] (editor), ''Dictionary of Seventeenth Century British Philosophers'' (2000), article pp. 90-95.</ref>