He was the second son of Adam Boyd of
Pinkhill and his wife Helen Kennedy. His paternal uncle was
Robert Boyd, 4th Lord Boyd. He was present at the
Battle of Langside in 1568 on the side of
Mary, Queen of Scots. He studied
philosophy at
Glasgow University then went to France to do further studies in law under
Cujacius. He returned to Scotland and around 1572 became minister of
Kirkoswald in
Ayrshire. He lived nearby at Trochrig House (aka Trochrague) on the coast south of
Ayr. In 1573 he was promoted to
Archbishop of Glasgow based at
Glasgow Cathedral also being given charge of the nearby
Barony Church. He was Chancellor of
Glasgow University from 1573 until death, operating alongside
Andrew Hay as Rector, and
Andrew Melville as Principal. In 1574 he helped to create the
Second Book of Discipline. In March 1575 he replaced
John Duncanson as
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. From 1577 he seems to have returned to Kirkoswald but was still styled "Bishop". His formal position as archbishop was filled by
Robert Montgomery. ==Family==