BARCLAY, Robert, a member of the Society of Friends: b. 23 Dec. 1648, at Gordons town, in the county of Moray, of an ancient and honorable family; d. Ury, near Aberdeen, 3 Oct. 1690. The troubles of the country in duced his father, Colonel Barclay, to send him to Paris, to be educated under the care of his uncle, who was principal of the Scots College in that capital, and who offered to make him his heir if he would become a convert to the Roman Catholic religion. Barclay refused and soon afterward his father sent for him to re turn home; and Colonel Barclay soon after be coming a Quaker, his son followed his example. Uniting all the advantages of solid learning to great natural abilities, he soon distinguished himself by his talents and zeal in the support of his new opinions. His first treatise in sup port of his adopted principles was published at Aberdeen in the year 1670, under the title of 'Truth Cleared of Calumnies,' etc. To propa gate the doctrines, as well as to maintain the credit he had gained for his sect, he published, in 1675, a regular treatise, in order to explain and defend the system of the Quakers, which production was also very favorably received. These and similar labors involved him in con troversies with the leading members of the Uni versity of Aberdeen, and others; but he was at the same time busy with his great work in Latin, (An Apology for the True Christian Divinity, as the Same is Preached and Held Forth by the People in Scorn Called Quakers,' published at Amsterdam in 1676; an English translation appeared later in the same year. He traveled with William Penn and George Foxe through the greater part of England, Hol land and Germany, to spread the opinions of the Quakers. He with other Quakers was im
prisoned for five months at Ury because of his beliefs, but enjoyed the royal favor after his release, and in 1683 was made nominal governor of East Jersey under patent to the Society of Friends by the Duke of York. He never came to America, however. His estate remained in the possession of his descendants until 1854. His study remained as he left it for about two centuries when it was pulled down. The last of his productions, in defense of the theory of the Quakers, was a long Latin letter addressed, in 1676, to Adrian de Paets, 'On the Possibility and Necessity of an Inward and Immediate Revelation.' It was not published in England until 1686. With few exceptions, both partisans and opponents unite in the profession of great respect for the character and talents of Bar clay. Besides the works already mentioned or alluded to, he wrote (Catechism and Confes sion of Faith' (1673) ; 'Theses Theologise' (1675), of which the Apology was a defense; 'The Anarchy of Ranters' (1676) ; 'Universal Love Considered and Established Upon Its Right Foundation' (1677) ; and various replies to the most able opponents of his Apology. In 1692 a collected edition of his works appeared under the title 'Truth Triumphant.' It was republished in 1717-18. The 'Apology,' chism,' and (Treatise on Church Government' (formerly called 'The Anarchy of the Ranters') have been issued by the Friends' Book Store (Philadelphia). Consult Armistead, William, 'Life of Robert Barclay> (Manchester 1850).
See QUAKERS.