Thomas Chalmers was born on 17 March 1780, the sixth child of John and Elizabeth Chalmers, in a small fishing and trading village on the south-east coast of Fife Scotland.

The Chalmers family owned a dye and thread works as well as a general merchant’s business. The money provided by these businesses made it possible for John to give his children a good academic education. As important as a good education was, however, John’s primary desire was that his children would excel in what he termed, ‘practical Christianity.’

The family home was a happy hub of activity as Thomas, along with his 8 brothers and 5 sisters, were encouraged to read widely and to discuss the latest scientific advances with their parents. From an early age it was evident that Thomas was an extremely gifted child. At the age of three he outstripped his parents’ resources and was enrolled in the local school. When he was only ten he was ready to enter St. Andrew’s University but was too young and had to wait until he was 12 to begin.

When he entered the university in 1792, Thomas quickly outpaced the curriculum, showing particular aptitude at mathematics. While still a student he became one of the greatest theoretical mathematicians in the world.

Thomas hoped to become a professor at the university when he was old enough. However, at the age of 15 he began to sense a call to the ministry. Thus, in 1795 Thomas entered the divinity school in order to prepare for ministry. Three years later he finished the course but because he was too young to become an ordained minister he took a post as a private tutor.

In 1799, Thomas Chalmers was ordained, but there was still no opening for him to serve. Thus he continued to take courses at university, eventually becoming an assistant professor. It was evident to the entire university that he was a man of exceptional intellectual gifting. Although he began teaching graduate courses to students older than himself, being an expert in everything from chemistry to moral philosophy to history to political economy to theoretical mathematics, he was still too young to be offered a permanent position.

On the side, Chalmers taught himself German (had already taught himself French to read French math books). He also began to dabble in the Nordic languages, ultimately inventing his own Nordic language in which to record his journal entries.

The rest of this post has been removed because it appears in my book Saints and Scoundrels.