J. A. Wylie

Rev. Dr. James Aitken Wiley (1808-1890) was a Scottish historian of religion and a Presbyterian minister. He was a prolific writer and best known for writing The History of Protestantism. Wiley was born on August 9, 1808 in Kirrimyuir to James Wiley and Margaret Forrest. His name is Father, Rev. James Aitken, was Minister for the Fight against the Old Licht burghery in the Church of Secession. Wiley was educated at Marischal College of the University of Aberdeen, where he studied for three years, and then moved to the University of St. Andrews to study with Rev. Dr. Thomas Chalmers. He followed his father's example by entering the Edinburgh Primary School Hall of Divinity in 1827. He was ordained at the Secessionist Church in Dollar, Clackmannanshire in 1831. In 1846, he left the church to become deputy editor of the Edinburgh religious newspaper Witness under Hugh Miller. In 1852, joining the Free Church of Scotland, Wiley edited their Free Church Book, which he continued until 1860.