John Spotswood, a Scottish prelate, born in Edinburghshire in 15G5, died in London, Nov. 20, 1(339. He graduated at the university of Glasgow at the age of 1G, and at 20 succeeded his father as minister of Calderkirk. At first he strenuously opposed episcopacy, but soon yielding to the court party, he began to favor it in a moderate form. In 1603 he was one of five clergymen selected by James I. to accompany him to London for his coronation, and while there was appointed to succeed Beatoun as archbishop of Glasgow. From this time he earnestly sought to establish episcopacy in Scotland, incurring much odium among the great body of the Scottish people. In 1009 he was appointed an extraordinary lord of session, but was obliged to remain subject to the ordinary church courts till 1010, when he and two other Scottish bishops received episcopal ordination at the hands of English bishops. He became primate of all Scotland in 1015, and in 1633 placed the crown on the head of Charles I. as king of Scotland. He had for some years been the head, first of one of the two courts of high commission for trying offences against the church, and then of the two combined; and in 1035 ho was appointed lord high chancellor of Scotland. Contrary to his own inclinations, as alleged, but by order of the king, he introduced a new liturgy and book of canons, which so aroused Scottish indignation that he retired in 1637 to Newcastle, and finally to London. He wrote a "History of the Church of Scotland, from the Year 203 to the Close of the Reign of James VI." (fol., London, 1055), and one or two smaller works.