Candlish, Robert Smith (1806–1873)

Scottish preacher. He came to the forefront of those who later constituted the Free Church, and the part that he played in securing the Disruption of the Church of Scotland was second only to that of his friend and leader, Thomas Chalmers. Moderator of the Assembly in 1861, he accepted the principalship of New College, Edinburgh, in the following year.

Candlish graduated from Glasgow University in 1823. He was appointed to St George's in Edinburgh, Scotland. He worked unceasingly to secure the union of the various dissenting Presbyterian sects.