Thomas Guthrie, a Scottish clergyman, born at Brechin, Forfarshire, July 12, 1803, died at St. Leonards, Fifeshire, Feb. 24, 1873. He was educated at Edinburgh, and was licensed to preach in 1825. He afterward studied medicine in Paris, and on his return to Scotland was for a time employed in his father's banking house. In 1830 he was ordained pastor at Arbirlot near Arbroath, and in 1837 was transferred to the old Greyfriars church, Edinburgh. Here he became very popular among all classes, exerted himself to reach the masses of the people, and opened the old Magdalene chapel in the Cowgate, giving the poor residents of the neighborhood the preference in seats. Greyfriars was a collegiate church, and in 1840 the separate parish of St. John's was erected for him. The new building was arranged with especial reference to the wants of the poor, but was hardly occupied when in 1843 the disruption of the church of Scotland took place. In the discussions which led to that event Dr. Guthrie had taken a prominent part, and he now cooperated with Chalmers, Candlish, and Cunningham in the organization of the Free church. In 1845 the work of building manses throughout the church was put under his care.

For some time after the disruption his congregation met in a Methodist chapel, but subsequently St. John's Free church was built for him. He sought to open in the basement of his church a ragged school, but being opposed by the elders of the congregation he undertook a larger work, apart from the supervision of any particular church or denomination. About this time he published his " Plea for Ragged Schools," which was many times republished, and his ragged school became the pioneer of many like schools. He was also active in the temperance reform. In 1848 he was obliged on account of impaired health to have a colleague, and Dr. William Hanna was chosen to the place. In 1864 Dr. Guthrie was forced to give up public speaking, retired from the pastorate, and became editor of the "Sunday Magazine," then just starting. In October, 1872, he was again prostrated by sickness, and in February, 1873, went to St. Leonards in the hope of relief, but a fatal attack almost immediately ensued. Dr. Guthrie was remarkably eloquent both as a pulpit and platform speaker.

He published about 20 volumes, mostly collections from his sermons, or republications from "Good Words" and the "Sunday Magazine." Among the most famous of these are "The Gospel in Ezekiel," "The Saint's Inheritance," "The Way to Life," "On the Parables," "Out of Harness," " Speaking to the Heart," " Studies of Character," " The City and Ragged Schools," " Man and the Gospel," and " Our Father's Business." His works have been republished in America, including his " Autobiography and Memoir," by his sons (1874).