John Strang

John Strang (1584–1654) was a Scottish minister and Principal of Glasgow University.

He was born at Irvine, Ayrshire. His father, William Strang (1547–1588), minister of Irvine, belonged to the family of Strang of Balcaskie in Fife; and his mother Agnes was sister of Alexander Borthwick, 'portioner' of Nether Lenagher, Midlothian. On William's death in 1588 she married Robert Wilkie (d. 1601), minister of Kilmarnock, and young Strang received his early education at the grammar school there, Zachary Boyd being one of his schoolfellows. About the age of twelve he was sent to the University of St. Andrews, and placed under the care of Principal R. Wilkie, a relative of his stepfather. He graduated M.A. four years afterwards, and subsequently became one of the regents of St. Leonard's College.

In 1614 he was ordained and on 10 April was inducted to the parish of Errol, Perthshire, being recommended by the professors of St. Andrews and Alexander Henderson, then minister of Leuchars. On 29 July 1616 he was made doctor of divinity by his alma mater, being one of the first on whom that honour was conferred, after its revival, by order of the king; and in the following year, took part in a disputation held in the royal presence at St. Andrews. He was a member of the general assembly held at Perth in 1618, and was the only D.D. who voted against the five articles. On 15 June 1619 he was made a member of the high commission, and in 1620 he refused the offer of an Edinburgh church. During his incumbency at Errol he frequently acted as moderator of the presbytery of Perth in the absence of the bishop, and he was the means of converting several members of the Earl of Errol's family to Protestantism and of strengthening the reformed church in that part of the country. In 1626 he accepted, after solicitations by the professors and magistrates, the principalship of Glasgow University. In addition to the charge of the business affairs and discipline of the university, he lectured twice a week on divinity, presided at the weekly theological disputations, taught Hebrew, and preached frequently.

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