His commendation from the magistrates of St Andrews reads: "[This] is the only gift that this corporation can bestow upon you, for your wonderful and unexampled exertions in rescuing from the jaws of death the master and four seamen of the sloop the Janet of Macduff, wrecked in these sands of St Andrews, and who, but for your humane and unparalleled exertions, at the imminent hazard of your own life, must have inevitably perished." He went on to become a Perthshire minister, but died at the age of 32 following a prolonged period of ill-health thought to have been linked to injuries he sustained on his final trip, when struck across the chest by a falling mast.
The magistrates of St Andrews praised him: "[This] is the only gift we can give you for your heroic efforts in saving the master and four seamen from the Janet of Macduff, which sank on these sands. You risked your life to rescue them, but they would have perished if not for your bravery." He then became a minister in Perthshire but died at 32 due to health issues thought to be related to injuries sustained during his final journey when he was struck by a falling mast.