John Logan

Rev John Logan FRSE (1748–1788) was a minister in Leith, Scotland, a popular preacher known also as a historian. Self-destructive behaviour saw him end his life as a hack writer in London.

He was born at a farm in Soutra, near Fala, Midlothian to George Logan, a farmer, and his wife Janet Waterston, daughter of John Waterston in the parish of Stow. The family moved to Gosford Mains, near Aberlady in East Lothian. In terms of their religious belief they were dissenters: members of the Burgher branch of the First Secession. They attended the church of John Brown in Haddington. John then went to the grammar school of Musselburgh; it may have been there that he encountered Alexander Carlyle, a continuing influence in his life.

Logan entered the University of Edinburgh in 1762, where he was taught by Hugh Blair. Lord Elibank, who then resided at Ballencrieff in the parish of Aberlady, interested himself in Logan's welfare, and gave him access to his library.