Background
Born at Marykirk, Kincardineshire, on 12 May 1826, he was the son of Alexander Roberts, a flax-spinner.
Born at Marykirk, Kincardineshire, on 12 May 1826, he was the son of Alexander Roberts, a flax-spinner.
He was educated at the grammar school and King"s College, Aberdeen, where he graduated Master of Arts
In March 1847, being the Simpson Greek prizeman. In 1864, then a minister at Carlton Hill, London, he was made Doctor of Divinty of Edinburgh University. In 1872, he succeeded John Campbell Shairp in the chair of humanity at the University of Saint Andrews.
He was made emeritus professor in 1899.
He died at Saint Andrews, Mitcham Park, Surrey, on 8 March 1901. He was returned to Street Andrews for burial and lies in the south-east corner of the churchyard of Street Andrews Cathedral.
He was also minister at Saint John"s Wood, and was a member of the New Testament revision company (1870-1884).