Notorious death of historical Faculty figure


19 Nov

 

THE infamous killing of a 17th century Faculty figure has been recounted in a newspaper article about Glasgow’s history.

Robert Park, Advocate, was said to have been a “stickler for correct procedure…a quality that would lead to his death.”

While serving as Town Clerk in Glasgow in 1694, Park, also Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, took issue with the arrest of burgesses by soldiers – a breach of procedure.

He remonstrated with the major in charge of the arrests and their argument came to blows, and ended when he was fatally wounded by a thrust of the major’s sword.

The Glasgow Times says the major was pursued by friends of Park, and shot dead. The incident was “the sensation of the day”.

The article can be seen here