Robert Blair (moderator)  Robert Blair (1593 – 27 August 1666) was a Scottish presbyterian minister who was excommunicated in 1634 but became a Westminster Divine and was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1646 after an unsuccessful attempt to emigrate to Boston in 1636. Robert Blair was born in Irvine, 1593, the sixth son of John Blair of Windyedge, a merchant-adventurer and cadet of Blair, and Beatrix Mure of the Rowallan family. He was educated at the University of Glasgow, graduating with an M.A. in 1612. He was appointed regent there in 1615 and licenced in 1616. In consequence of the appointment of John Cameron, to the Principalship, who favoured Episcopacy, Blair resigned his regency, went to Ireland on the invitation of Lord Claneboy, and was sometime minister of a Presbyterian congregation at Bangor. He was ordained thereto by Robert Echlin, Bishop of Down and Connor, and some of the neighbouring pastors. Blair narrates that he was "very careful to inform him [Echlin] both of what accusations had been laid against me of disaffection to the civil powers, and that I could not submit to the use of the English liturgy nor Episcopal government. But he having been informed of my altercations with Dr Cameron, said, 'I know all that business,' and added that he was confident of procuring a free entry for me, which he quickly effectuated. . . . Having been invited to preach by the patron, and by Mr Gibson, the sick incumbent, I yielded to their invitation and preached there three Sabbath days. After that, several of the aged and most respectful persons in the congregation came to me by order of the whole, and informed me that they were edified by the doctrine delivered by me, and intreated me not to leave them. Likewise the dying man did several ways encourage me. He professed great sorrow for his having been a dean. He condemned Episcopacy more strongly than ever I durst do: he charged me in the name of Christ, and as I expected his blessing on my ministry, not to leave that good way wherein I had begun to walk, and then drawing my head towards his bosom with both his arms, he laid his hands on my head, and blessed me. Within a few days after he died, and my admission was accomplished as quickly as might be, in the following way.