A DESCENDANT of an important figure in Haddington’s history is to visit the town to mark the 300th anniversary of his birth.

John Brown was born in rural Perthshire in 1722 and went on to be minister of the Burgher Church in Haddington.

In 1778, he published the work for which he is best known, The Self-Interpreting Bible.

It would go on to become a best-seller in Scotland and it was later published in instalments in New York, with President George Washington heading the list of subscribers.

Brown died on June 19, 1787, before he was buried outside St Mary’s Parish Church in Haddington.

A spokesperson for the church said: “His grave, and that of his second wife Violet Croumbie, is outside the west door of St Mary’s and is marked by three obelisks.

“It is hoped to mark the 300th anniversary of Brown’s birth with a display of artefacts associated with his life and, at the end of June, his great-granddaughter-times-five is coming from the US to visit St Mary’s.”

The anniversary of the minister’s birth was also marked in the Scottish Parliament earlier this year.

Paul McLennan, East Lothian MSP, lodged a motion highlighting the significance of Brown.