Editing Robert Murray M'Cheyne (section)

==Early life and ministry==
Robert Murray M'Cheyne was born at 14 Dublin Street in [[Edinburgh]] on 21 May 1813, the son of Adam McCheyne [[Writer to The Signet|W.S.]] (d. 1854),{{sfn|Rogers|1871}} and Lockhart Murray, daughter of David Dickson of Locherwoods, Dumfriesshire.{{sfn|Scott|1925}} At the age of four he knew the characters of the Greek alphabet, and was able to sing and recite fluently. He entered the high school in his eighth year, and matriculated in November 1827 at [[University of Edinburgh]], where he showed very versatile powers, and distinguished himself especially in poetical exercises, being awarded a special prize by Professor Wilson for a poem on ‘[[Covenanters|The Covenanters]].’ In the winter of 1831 he commenced his studies in the Divinity Hall, under [[Thomas Chalmers]] and [[David Welsh]]; and he was licensed as a preacher by the [[Annan, Dumfries and Galloway|Annan]] presbytery on 1 July 1835.{{sfn|Millar|1893}}

He first served as an assistant to John Bonar in the parish of [[Larbert]] and [[Dunipace]], near [[Falkirk]], from 1835 to 1836. On 24 November 1836 he was ordained to the pastorate of St. Peter's Church, [[Dundee]], which had been erected into a [[quoad sacra]] parish in the preceding May. The congregation numbered eleven hundred hearers, and M'Cheyne addressed himself to the work of the ministry with so much ardour that his health again gave way, and in December 1838 he was compelled to desist from all public duty.{{sfn|Millar|1893}}  He went to Edinburgh to rest and recuperate. During his absence his pulpit was supplied by [[William Chalmers Burns]], afterwards the celebrated missionary to China.{{sfn|Scott|1925}}