Alexander Gosman

  General Notes:

Alexander Gosman was born at Crail in February 1829. His parents were John Gosman and Catherine Auchterlonie. He attended the parish school and then taught in several schools including Glasgow High School, where he was assistant English master, and acted as Chaplain to Glasgow Asylum for the Blind,
In 1850 he commenced studying for the ministry at the University of Glasgow. Alexander was ordained in June 1855. In September 1857, he married Jan Buchanan.
In response to appeals by the Colonial Missionary Society, he emigrated to Australia with his wife and baby daughter. They arrived in Melbourne on board the “Great Britian” in September 1860.
His first charge was at Ballarat where he won renown as a Scholar and Preacher. In 1864 he was appointed Lecturer, and later Professor at the Congregational College of Victoria. He was Principle from 1876 to 1913.
Alexander held many educational and religious appointments and his reputation as an eminent theologian continued to grow. He became first Chairman of the Congregational Union of Australia in 1884. In 1904 he was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity by the University of St. Andrews. He was also a tireless campaigner for the underprivileged and became first President of the Anti-Sweating League. Rev Alexander Gosman died in January 1913, leaving a widow and six children.

Alexander married Jane Buchanan. (Jane Buchanan was born on 25 Aug 1826 in Bonhill, Dunbartonshire Scotland and died in 1917 in Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria Australia.)