CAMERON, RtunAttn a ? -10i8nt. A Scotch minister, born in Falkland, Fife. lie was founder of the sect of Cameronians. a term popularly applied to but declined by the Re formed Presbyterians. The son of a trades 111311, he was an apt. pupil at the village school, and while still a youth became schoolmaster and precentor. He espoused the cause of the itinerant tield•preachers, and, possessing nat ural eloquence. was licensed and admitted to their numbers. In 1(179 he joined banished friends in Holland. but returned in 11;80, and with others strenuously resisted the measures that reinstated the Episefpal Church in Scot land, and proscribed the meetings for public worship of unauthorized religious bodies. Ile persisted in preaching in the fields and antago nized the Government by an attitude of de fiance. In June, 1680, with twenty well-armed companions, lie entered the town of Sanquhar, and in the market-place formally renounced al legianee to Charles II.. for abuse of power, and
declared war against him and his adherents, He retired to tbe bills between Nithsdale and Ayrshire. and succeeded in evading capture for a month, though a price of 500)0 marks was set upon Cameron's head by the Government, and 3000 for the heads of the other leaders. They were surprised by a superior force in Aird's Aloss, July 20, 1680, and after a brave tight Cameron was llis hands and head were emit off and fixed upon the Netherbow Port, Edin followers who escaped were induced by the Edinburgh Convention of 14;89 assist in the revolution, and formed the nucleus of the renowned Cameronian regiment (q.v.) of the British Army. C011•Allit Richard Puns in Famous Scots Series (New York. 1896).