Melville, Andrew, nicknamed the Blast 1545-c.1622
Scottish Presbyterian reformer

Born in Baldowie, Angus, he was educated at St Andrews and Paris. In 1568 he became Professor of Humanity at Geneva. On his return to Scotland he was appointed Principal of Glasgow University (1574-80), and did much to reorganize university education, introducing Greek for the first time to a Scottish university. He also had an important share in drawing up the Second Book of Discipline (1579). Chosen Principal of St Mary's College in St Andrews in 1580, he taught Hebrew, Chaldee and Syriac besides lecturing on theology. In 1582 he preached boldly against absolute authority before the General Assembly and advocated a presbyterial system of church government, and in 1584, to escape imprisonment, he went to London. He was repeatedly Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. In 1596 he headed a deputation to 'remonstrate' with King James VI (James VI and I), and in 1606, with seven other ministers, was called to England to confer with him. Having ridiculed the service in the Chapel Royal in a Latin epigram, he was summoned before the English Privy Council, and sent to the Tower. In 1611 he was released through the intercession of the Duke of Bouillon, who wanted his services as Professor of Theology in his university at Sedan. His nickname stems from his religious fervour.