Donald Macpherson Baillie (1887-1954) was the son of John Baillie (1829-1891) and a younger brother to John Baillie (1886-1960). He was educated at Inverness Royal Academy and at the Universities of Edinburgh, Marburg and Heidelberg. He graduated with an MA from New College Edinburgh in 1909, and he spent some time with the YMCA in France before being ordained in 1918 and was minister of Bervie United Free Church until 1923. Moving to St. John's, Cupar he was there until 1930 and then at St. Columba's, Kilmacolm until 1934.

Donald was appointed Kerr lecturer at the University of Glasgow in 1923, delivering lectures in 1926. In 1935 he became Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of St Andrews, where he had been Additional examiner for the BD degree in Divinity and Ecclesiastical History from 1921-1924, and which had awarded him an Honorary DD in 1933. Other academic positions included External Examiner for the BD in Divinity at the University of Edinburgh from 1933, Forwood lecturer in the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Liverpool, 1947, and Moore lecturer at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1952.

Donald Macpherson Baillie's father was John Baillie, Free Church Minister at Gairloch. One brother was John Baillie (1886-1960), the internationally reknowned theologian, the other brother was Peter Baillie (1889-1914), missionary doctor. His cousin was Sir Duncan Colvin Baillie (1856-1919), colonial administrator.

Notable publications:

Faith in God and its Christian consummation, (1927)

Christian faith and practice, (1932)

God was in Christ, (1948)

Intercommunion, (1952)

To whom shall we go?, (1955)

Theology of the sacraments and other papers, (1957)

Out of Nazareth, (1958)

1909: M.A. (1st Class Honours) Mental Philosophy, University of Edinburgh

1910-1912: JE Baxter Scholar of Edinburgh University

1912-1915: Hamilton Fellow of Edinburgh University

1911-1914: Assistant to the Professor of Moral Philosophy

1918: Ordained

1918-1923: Minister of Bervie United Free Church

1923-1930: Minister of St John's, Cupar

1930-1934: Minister of St Columba's, Kilmacolm

1921-1924: Examiner in Divinity and Ecclesiastical History, University of St Andrews

1926: Kerr Lecturer, University of Glasgow

1933-1935: Examiner in Divinity, University of Edinburgh

1935-1954: Professor of Systematic Theology, University of St Andrews

1947: Forwood Lecturer in the Philosophy of Religion, University of Liverpool

1952: Moore Lecturer, San Francisco Theological Seminary

List of sources for the biographical information:

Who Was Who, 1951-1960, (London, Adam & Charles Black, c1961)