Background
David was born 14 February 1719 at Mill of Melgund, Aberlemno, Angus, son of David Doig and Ann Sturrock. His father, who was a small farmer, died while he was an infant, and his mother married again.
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David was born 14 February 1719 at Mill of Melgund, Aberlemno, Angus, son of David Doig and Ann Sturrock. His father, who was a small farmer, died while he was an infant, and his mother married again.
The University of Glasgow conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, and on the same day he received from Saint Andrews his diploma as Master of Arts
He was Rector of Stirling High School from 1760 to 1800. He was successful in a Latin competition for a bursary at the University of Saint Andrews. Doig taught from 1749 in the parochial schools of Monifieth, Kennoway and Falkland, Fifeshire.
His reputation then gained for him the rectorship of the grammar school of Stirling, a post he filled for over 40 years.
In addition to Greek and Latin Doig had mastered Hebrew and Arabic. He was also elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
He later described Doctor David Doig as "a queerish figure, and something of a pedant."
Doig was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1798. His proposers were Doctor James Gregory, Andrew Dalzell, and John Playfair.
Doig died in Stirling on 16 March 1800, aged 81.
He is buried in the Holy Rude Cemetery next to Stirling Castle. The town of Stirling also erected a marble monument to his memory, with a Latin epitaph written by himself. Doig was married to Isabella Janet Bower (1727-1762) in Monifieth on 17 November 1749.
Their daughter Isabella (1751-1819) married Doctor John Aird (c1740-1790) with sons William, David, and John.
The next four children died young. Patrick Doig (1762-1833) married Jane Austin (1781-1849)with a son David (1812-1819).
Patrick later became a medical doctor in Antigua.