Background
The eighth son of John Bonar (1722–1761), minister at Cockpen, Midlothian (and later at Perth) and Christian Currier (d1771), he was born on 29 September 1757.
Astronomer lawyer solicitor scholars
The eighth son of John Bonar (1722–1761), minister at Cockpen, Midlothian (and later at Perth) and Christian Currier (d1771), he was born on 29 September 1757.
He was educated at the High School, Edinburgh, and attended Edinburgh University.
He served as Solicitor of Excise in Scotland, and was known as a scholar and supporter of learned societies. Bonar early entered the excise office, but became noted as a scholar. He was one of the original promoters of the Astronomical Institution, and one of the founders of the Edinburgh Subscription Library in 1794.
In 1798 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and served as its Treasurer from 1798 to 1821.
Bonar died on 25 March 1821.
He was a member of the Speculative Society of Edinburgh University, admitted 9 December 1777, and elected an extraordinary member on 24 December 1781, and was for several years treasurer of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
