Introduction

Biography

Son of a far­mer, Lo­gan was edu­cat­ed at Ed­in­burgh Uni­ver­si­ty. He en­tered the min­is­try of the Church of Scot­land, be­com­ing min­is­ter of South Leith in 1770.

During his time in Leith, he de­liv­ered lec­tures on phi­lo­so­phy and his­to­ry with much suc­cess. While he was thus en­gaged, the chair of Uni­vers­al His­tory at the Uni­ver­si­ty be­came va­cant, but he was un­success­ful as a can­di­date.

In 1775 he joined the Com­mit­tee which pre­pared the Trans­la­tions and Pa­ra­phras­es of the Church of Scot­land. Around 1782, he re­signed his post at Leith and moved to Lon­don, where he supp­ort­ed him­self part­ly by his pen.