March 1, 1546 - George Wishart Burned at the Stake

George Wishart memorial, St Andrews, Scotland. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.

Near the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews, Scotland, stands the Martyrs’ Memorial, erected in honor of three pivotal figures of the Scottish Reformation: Patrick Hamilton, George Wishart, and James Melville. Among them, George Wishart was executed on March 1, 1546, burned at the stake for preaching Protestant doctrine and challenging the authority of the Roman Catholic hierarchy.

Wishart was a scholar fluent in Greek and deeply influenced by continental Reformers. He preached justification by faith, the supremacy of Scripture, and the need for moral reform within the Church. His ministry drew large crowds, even amid growing political and religious tensions in Scotland. His arrest and execution were orchestrated by Cardinal David Beaton, a staunch defender of Catholic orthodoxy.

Rather than silencing reform, Wishart’s martyrdom intensified it. One of his close associates was John Knox, who would later lead the Scottish Reformation. Knox reportedly carried a sword to protect Wishart during his preaching tours. After Wishart’s death, Knox’s resolve only strengthened.

Wishart’s execution illustrates a recurring pattern in Christian history: persecution often amplifies the very movement it seeks to suppress. His death became a catalyst for reform in Scotland, and his legacy endures not only in stone memorials but in the theological transformation of a nation.