INNES, TITOMAS (1662-1744). An historian of Scotland. He was born at Drumgask. Aber deenshire, in 1662. and educated in Paris. In he was ordained priest of the Roman Cath olic Church. and passed most of his remaining years in Paris, occasionally visiting England and Scotland, chiefly for historical research. The great object of his life was to refute the fabulous narratives 01 Scotland, which had been hitherto generally accepted by his coon men. and to supply, in place of fable, a true history. The preparatory task he aecomplished in his Critical Essay on the I ncient Inhabitants of Scotland (2 vols., London, 1729). In the preparation of this work he examined all the manuscripts and other material relating to the subject which he could lied in France, England, and Scotland. The task wits l'xt rvinely difficult, for in his time most of these manuscripts were wholly unknown except to a few antiquaries; but the complete success of his labor is admitted by all who are acquainted with this portion of Scottish history. The Critical Essay has been
reprinted with a memoir of the author by Grub in Ilk Historians of Scot/and, viii. (Edinburgh, 1879). After finishing the critical part of his task, limes began his eonstructive work in his (*aril and Ecclesiastical Ilistory of Scotland. The first volume only was completed by the au thor, and the second. so far as he had progressed with it. reaches merely to the year- 521 (ed. by Grub for the Spaulding Club, Aberdeen. 1853). Itesides these prineipal works lie wrote many dissertations and letters, and made valuable col lections of manuscripts. His death occurred in 1 7 4 4. In addition to Ilk Men/ by Ilrub, men (lolled above, consult: Chambers, Itioaraphical Dictionary of F. inent Scotsmen II:la sgow, 1R37); Forbes. .1 to Account of the Familic of bines (compiled 1095; printed for Spaulding Club, Aberdeen, 151i41.