He was born in
Keith on 20 February 1812 the son of Thomas Sellar a shoemaker, and his wife, Rachel Robertson. He was educated at
Keith Academy then studied at
King's College, Aberdeen graduating MA in 1837 then doing further studies in divinity at
St Andrews University. From 1838 to 1843 he was a schoolmaster at St Andrews
Lhanbryde, being licensed to preach as a Church of Scotland minister by the Presbytery of
Elgin in September 1842. In July 1843 he was ordained as a minister of
Aberlour. In 1858 King's College awarded him an honorary
Doctor of Divinity. In 1867 he served on the Committee on Aids to Devotion. In 1875 he succeeded Rev Prof
Samuel Trail as Moderator of the General Assembly, the highest position in the
Church of Scotland. He was succeeded in turn by
Rev George Cook. In the year of his being Moderator he served under the
Earl of Rosslyn as Lord High Commissioner of the General Assembly, and with
Robert Lee, advocate as Procurator. He died in Aberlour on 10 August 1886. ==Publications==