George Wishart (c.1513-1546)

Wishart studied at Louvain and then taught New Testament Greek in Montrose, but left for England in 1538. For a time he was in Bristol where his teaching attracted attention and resulted in his being examined by Cranmer.

He visited Germany and Cambridge and returned to Scotland in 1543, again teaching in Montrose. He popularised Swiss Reformation ideas including by his translation of the 1536 Helvetic Confession of Faith into English.

Preaching tours put him in danger of the authorities - John Knox was once his guard in East Lothian - and Cardinal Beaton had him arrested. He was burnt at St Andrews in March 1546 further advancing the emerging reformation cause.

Charles Rodgers Life of George Wishart (Word copy transcribed by Neville Wishart of Wellington)