Proudfoot, William (family) : William Proudfoot was a Presbyterian minister, an editor and an educator. He was born 23 May 1788 near Peebles, Scotland. He married Isobel Aitchison of Biggar, Scotland on 8 June, 1814 and they had six sons and five daughters.
In 1807, Proudfoot entered the Associate Synod of Scotland's divinity hall at Selkirk. Licensed by the Associate Presbytery of Edinburgh on 6 April, 1812, Proudfoot worked for a short time as a relief preacher before accepting a call from Pitroddie where he was ordained on 11 August, 1813.
Shortly after his ordination, Proudfoot built up a large congregation, constructed a new church, created a bible society and opened an elementary grammar school. However, the church could not meet his salary and Proudfoot was forced to apply to one of three missionary postings to the Canadas proposed by the United Associate Synod of the Secession Church. Successful, he resigned on 5 June, 1832 and a month later headed to Canada.
In Canada, Proudfoot and the other two missionaries were responsible for establishing the church's presence in the North American mission field. After surveying the Canadas, Proudfoot decided to focus only on the western section of the province since Presbyterian groups were already well-established east of Hamilton. Proudfoot and his family settled in London in late 1832.
Proudfoot immediately assumed command of the Canadian mission. In 1834, Proudfoot and his colleagues founded the Missionary Presbytery of the Canadas in connection with the United Associate Synod of the Secession Church in Scotland. He undertook preaching tours throughout western Upper Canada, helped create new missionary stations and congregations, and in January 1843 founded the "Presbyterian Magazine". He was editor and chief contributor of the magazine during its 12-month existence.
In 1850, Proudfoot's career shifted slightly when the synod he founded was renamed the Synod of the United Presbyterian Church in Canada in connection with the United Presbyterian Church in Scotland. In the summer of that year, the church decided to move its seminary to Toronto so that students could take advantage of the courses being offered at the University of Toronto. Proudfoot opposed the move, but was overruled. He taught classes in Toronto while maintaining his congregation in London. In the fall of 1850, while teaching, he caught cold and the complications that followed led to his death on 16 January, 1851. His successor as pastor in London was his son, the Reverend John James Aitchison Proudfoot.
