Robert Trail (moderator)
Robert Trail (1720–1775) was an 18th century Scottish minister who served as Professor of both Oriental Languages and Divinity at Glasgow University and as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1762. Life. Trail was born in Kincardineshire in 1720. He studied at Edinburgh University and became a minister of the Church of Scotland. In April 1745, Trail was presented by the Crown to the congregation of Kettins. In January 1746 he was formally ordained, taking place at Meigle due to a mob assembling at Kettins. In December 1753 he translated from Kettins  to St Mary's Church in Banff (Banff Parish Church). In October 1761, Trail joined Glasgow University as Professor of Oriental Languages. On the promotion of William Leechman to Principal, a few weeks later, Trail was asked to fill his place as Professor of Divinity. In 1762, Trail succeeded the John Hyndman as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland the highest position in the Scottish Church. He was succeeded in turn by William Robertson. Trail died in Glasgow in 1775.