Roderick MacLeod (minister)

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Roderick MacLeod FRSE (1727–1815) was a Scottish minister and scholar who led Kings College, Aberdeen, from 1800 until his death in 1815. He was the third son of Christina and Donald MacLeod, Laird of Talisker, Skye, and had three siblings. He studied at Aberdeen University, earning an MA in 1746. In 1749 he became Professor of Philosophy at Kings College. He was Sub Principal from 1764, and in 1800 was appointed Principal, replacing John Chalmers, a role he held until he died.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783, the day the Society was founded, and Aberdeen University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity in 1793. He died on 11 September 1815 and is buried near St Machar's Cathedral in Old Aberdeen.

In June 1780 he married Isobel (Isabella) Christie, and they had ten children, six surviving to adulthood. Notable children included Christian MacLeod, who married Hugh Macpherson, Professor of Greek at King’s College, Aberdeen, and Isabelle MacLeod, who married Arthur Forbes, son of Sir Arthur Forbes of Craigievar. Their son Dr. Roderick MacLeod (1785–1852) died in London. Roderick's wife remarried after his death. His portrait is owned by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and is kept in storage for preservation.