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Andrew Rutherfurd, Lord Rutherfurd

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The Right Honourable
Lord Rutherfurd
PC FRSE
Lord Rutherfurd, c. 1852
Member of Parliament for Leith Burghs
In office
1839–1851
Preceded byJohn Archibald Murray
Succeeded byJames Moncreiff
Lord Advocate
In office
1846–1851
Preceded byDuncan McNeill
Succeeded byJames Moncreiff
In office
1839–1841
Preceded byJohn Murray
Succeeded bySir William Rae
Solicitor General for Scotland
In office
1837–1839
Preceded byJohn Cunninghame
Succeeded byJames Ivory
Personal details
Born
Andrew Greenfield

(1791-06-21)21 June 1791
Bristo Port, Scotland
Died13 December 1854(1854-12-13) (aged 63)
Spouse
Sophia Frances Stewart
​
​
(m. 1822; died 1852)​
RelationsJohn Thomson Gordon (nephew)
Parent(s)William Greenfield
Janet Rutherfurd Bervie
ResidenceLauriston Castle
EducationRoyal High School, Edinburgh
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh

Andrew Rutherfurd, Lord Rutherfurd, PC, FRSE (born Andrew Greenfield; 21 June 1791 – 13 December 1854) was a Scottish advocate, judge and politician.

Early life

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Lauriston Castle

Rutherfurd was born at Bristo Port[1] (near Greyfriars Kirkyard) in Edinburgh on 21 June 1791 to Janet Rutherfurd Bervie,[2] and Reverend William Greenfield. In 1799, after his father was disgraced in a sex scandal, the family changed their name to Rutherfurd, his maternal grandmother's maiden name.[3] His main house was Lauriston Castle near Cramond just north-west of the city. His sister married John Gordon FRSE, father of John Thomson Gordon FRSE.

He was educated at the High School in Edinburgh then studied law at the University of Edinburgh. He became an advocate in 1812.[4]

Career

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In the 1830s he is listed as an advocate living at 9, St Colme Street, on the Moray Estate in Edinburgh's west end.[5] His house was remodelled by William Notman in 1835, whilst working in the offices of William Henry Playfair.[6]

He was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland from 1837, becoming Lord Advocate in 1839 and Member of Parliament for Leith burghs in the same year. He resigned office in September 1841 on William Peel's accession to power. He was appointed Rector of the University of Glasgow in 1844.[4]

He played an active part in parliamentary proceedings relating to Scotland, and proposed the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846. He was reappointed Lord Advocate in 1846, and was responsible for legislation amending the law of entail in Scotland in 1848. He served on the Royal Commission on the British Museum (1847–49).[7]

On 2 January 1849 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, his proposer being John Russell.[8]

He was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice, as Lord Rutherfurd and a Privy Counsellor in May 1851. From 1851 to 1854 he was a Lord of Session.[4]

Personal life

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In 1822, Rutherfurd married Sophia Frances Stewart, one of three daughters and two sons born to Mary Susanna (née Whaley) Stewart (a daughter of Richard Chapell Whaley, MP of Whaley Abbey) and Sir James Stewart, 7th Baronet, MP for Donegal. They had no children.[4]

His wife died in 1852 and was buried with him. He died on 13 December 1854 at 9 St Colme Street, his Edinburgh townhouse.[9] He is buried at Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh.

Legacy

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At Dean Cemetery, he was buried on Lord's Row, against the western wall, beneath a red granite pyramid designed by William Henry Playfair and built by Stewart McGlashan.[10][11] The monument is inscribed: Uxori desideratissimae contra votum superstes moerens posuit Andreas Rutherfurd, et sibi, MDCCCLII. ("Andrew Rutherfurd, surviving against his will, placed this tomb in mourning to his most beloved wife, and to himself, 1852".)[12]

Galley

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  • Portrait of Lord Rutherfurd, by Sir John Watson Gordon, c. 1851
    Portrait of Lord Rutherfurd, by Sir John Watson Gordon, c. 1851
  • Grave in the Dean Cemetery
    Grave in the Dean Cemetery
  • Andrew Rutherfurd and his wife, Sophia
    Andrew Rutherfurd and his wife, Sophia
  • Bust of Rutherfurd, by William Theod Rome (1837) Old College, University of Edinburgh
    Bust of Rutherfurd, by William Theod Rome (1837) Old College, University of Edinburgh
  • Rutherfurd's home at 9 St Colme Street, Edinburgh (centre: blue door)
    Rutherfurd's home at 9 St Colme Street, Edinburgh (centre: blue door)

References

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  1. ^ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1793
  2. ^ Waterston, Charles D; Macmillan Shearer, A (July 2006). Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002: Biographical Index (PDF). Vol. II. Edinburgh: The Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  3. ^ Pisanus Fraxi [Henry Spencer Ashbee], "Index Librorum Prohibitorum: being Notes Bio- Biblio- Icono- graphical and Critical, on Curious and Uncommon Books", London, privately printed, 1877, p. 340
  4. ^ a b c d Omond, George William Thomson: The Lord Advocates of Scotland: 2d Series, 1834–1880", A. Melrose Ltd, 1914, pp. 47–49.
  5. ^ "Edinburgh Post Office annual directory, 1832-1833". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  6. ^ Goold, David. "William Notman". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  7. ^ The Life of Sir Anthony Panizzi, Volume 1, by Louis Alexander Fagan, p. 257
  8. ^ Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  9. ^ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1853-54
  10. ^ "Andrew Rutherfurd – Edinburgh Drift".
  11. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ Rogers, Charles (19 July 1871). "Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland" – via Google Books.
[edit]
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Leith Burghs
1839–1851 		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Solicitor General for Scotland
1837–1839 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Lord Advocate
1839–1841 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Lord Advocate
1846–1851 		Succeeded by
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