James Bain

Rev. James Bain (1828–1911) was a minister of the established Church of Scotland and a noted controversialist who, though conservative in theology, sought to oppose a culture of deference to landlords in the Scottish Highlands and especially the influence of the Seafield Estates. In general, he defended the cause of the poor and of the 'masses' against the 'classes', utilising a slogan popularised by William Ewart Gladstone. Biography Bain was born in 1828, son of John Bain, a carrier contractor of Dingwall, and Isabella Macdonald. Fluent in both Scottish Gaelic and English, he was educated at the University of Edinburgh, and served in the following Highland parishes: Cross, Lewis; ordained 27 September 1859 Kilfinan, Argyll, inducted 24 November 1860 Lochalsh, inducted 24 November 1875 Duthil, Strathspey, Scotland, inducted 30 August 1877 and died still in office there 13 November 1911. On 20 February 1866, James Bain married Janet (Jessie) Wood Watson Paterson, daughter of James Paterson M.D. of Glasgow. They had four children. (The dates of death of the two sons are unknown.) James Paterson (born 1866) Isabella (Ella) Macdonald (born 1868 died 1890) Alexander Thomas Niven (born 1872) Jessie Watson (born 1874, died 1956) James Bain is buried in St Clement's Churchyard, Dingwall, with his father and mother, his daughter Ella and his wife Jessie.