CARSTARES, kili'stfirz, or CARSTAIRS, WILLTAM ( 1649-1715). A Scottish statesman and divine, born at Cathcart, near Glasgow, February II, 1649. lie was the son of the Rev. John Car stares, an extreme Covenanter, and was tutored by Sinclair, minister of Ormiston, East Lothian. Ile distinguished himself at Edinburgh Universi ty and graduated in 1667. Two years later lie went to Utrecht to study theology, and there his accomplishments attracted the notice of the Prince of Orange, whose life-long friend and con fidential adviser on English matters he became. Be returned to England in 1671, and on sus picion of being part author of a pamphlet on Scottish grievances, was first committed to the lower, then transferred to Edinburgh, and kept in prison until 1679. In 1682 he went to London aml negotiated between the English and Scotch conspirators in the Rye Douse Plot. He was arrested and put to the torture of the thumb screw, but only partly confessed, when assured that his depositions would not be used against any one. Unfortunately, Ids evidence, notwith standing his strennous expostulations, led to the execution of Baillie of Jerviswood (q.v.). He returned to Ifolland in 1685, and, acting mainly on his advice, the Prince of Orange planned and carried out the invasion of England in 1688. He
the Prince as chaplain, and when the Prince was established as William Ill., ef fected a reconciliation between him and the Scottish Church. From 1693 to 1702 he wielded great influence in Scottish affairs, and, owing to hi, authority in Church matters, was nick named 'Cardinal Carstairs.' Ile was eleeted principal of the Edinburgh I'lliVersity in 1701. and used his influence to increase the patronage of S•IAIisll colleges. In the same year he became minister of Greyfriars Church, and was ap pointed moderator of the General Assembly, an office to which he was four times elected in eleven veers. (hi a visit, to London in 1707 he received a medal and the personal thanks of Queen Anne for his assistance in passing the Act of Union. He succumbed to an attack of apoplexy December 2S. 1715. leaving a reputation for scholarship, piety, charity, and political sagacity.
Consult: McCormiek, "Life of Carstares,” pre fixed to State rapers and Letters Addressed to Carstares (London, 1774) ; Story, Che• netrr and Career of William Carstares (London, 1S74).