One time rector of Wigtown and Kirkcudbright Schools, Edinburgh High School, and minister at Dalton, Dumfriesshire. In 1800 he married Janet Lenox, sister of the Lenox brothers who were successful merchants in New York.  Published in the History of Edinburgh High School, 1849.

James Cririe - (1752 - 1835). Native of New Abbey.

JAMES CRIRE, M.A., D.D., was born in the parish of New Abbey, Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in April 1752. When two years old he lost his father; and not long afterwards he removed with his mother to Kirkgunzeon, where he was employed herding cattle. The Rev. William Clark, the minister of that parish, having noticed his fondness for reading, encouraged this propensity by supplying him with suitable books. He was in a great measure self-taught. Such proficiency did he make in study, that he was found qualified to undertake the management of a school, to which his reverend friend nominated him. Of Mr Clark's attention and encouraging kindness, he cherished, through life, a grateful recollection. From Kirkgunzeon Mr Cririe removed to a similar situation in the parish of Lochrutton.

In consequence of distinguishing himself there, he honourably obtained, in May 1777, the Mastership of the Grammar School of Wigton, in Galloway. In November 1781 he was appointed Rector of the Grammar School of Kirkcudbright. He was advanced, by comparative trial, November 1787, to the Rectorship of the High School of Leith. There, so early as 1790, Mr Cririe introduced the monitorial system of teaching. The enthusiasm and success with which he discharged his duty in Leith, and his acknowledged proficiency in classical literature, qualified him for filling the vacancy in the High School, to which he was elected March 18, 1795. He was master of some of the modern languages, particularly French and Spanish. Mr Cririe was sometime Latin Secretary to the Society of Scottish Antiquaries.

He resigned his Mastership in the autumn of 1801, having been presented to the parish of Dalton; and by the Presbytery of Lochmaben he was ordained on the 17th September of that year. The degree of Doctor in Divinity was conferred upon him, March 11, 1802, by the University of Edinburgh, at which he had prosecuted his studies. Dr Cririe, after assiduously devoting the remainder of his days to the discharge of his pastoral duties, died January 5, 1835, leaving a widow, who survived him nine years.

For the preceding particulars I am indebted partly to a communication which I had the pleasure of receiving from Dr Cririe himself, as also to two of his co-presbyters, namely, the Rev. James Hamilton, minister of New Abbey, and the Rev. Thomas H. Thomson, the worthy successor of Dr Cririe at Dalton.

Writings of Dr Cririe.—Scottish Scenery; or, Sketches in Verse, descriptive of Scenes chiefly in the Highlands of Scotland; accompanied with Notes and Illustrations; and ornamented with Engravings by W. Byrne, F.S.A., from Views painted by G. Walker, F.A.S.E. Lond. 1803,4to. "The object," says the author, " which he proposed to himself, was to express the feelings of the heart on the survey of picturesque beauty, and the scenes of past events presented to his view, in the different parts of the country which he visited."

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