Leighton, Robert (1611–1684)

Scottish churchman, principal and professor of divinity at Edinburgh University 1653–61, and archbishop of Glasgow 1671–72. During his lifetime, the Church of Scotland was split between those who wanted it to continue to be governed on Presbyterian lines and the supporters of episcopacy. After trying and failing to reconcile these two positions, Leighton resigned.

Leighton was minister of a Presbyterian church in Newbattle, Midlothian 1641–52. From then he was bishop of Dunblane 1661–70, and in 1671 accepted from Charles II the archbishopric of Glasgow.