Career
He matriculated at Street Salvator"s College, University of Street Andrews on 26 November 1540. He was a supporter of the Scottish Reformation of 1560, and in 1567 became Minister of Muckhart parish, Clackmannanshire. After the forfeiture of Bishop Robert Crichton in 1571, Paton became Bishop of Dunkeld.
This seems to have been arranged for him by Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, to whom Paton handed over his farm at Muckhart Mill in addition to promising the earl a share of episcopal revenue.
Paton resisted his forfeiture, but by 1584 had been replaced by the now reinstated Robert Crichton. Paton returned to his old parish of Muckhart, though not in the capacity of a minister.
He died there on 20 July 1596. He is known to have had four children, including Archibald Paton, who served in Dunkeld Cathedral during his father"s espiscopate.