George Haliburton (Lord Provost) Explained

George Haliburton (1685 - 1742) was an early 18th century Scottish merchant who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh 1740 to 1742.

Life

He was born at Muirhouse (or Muirhouselaw) north of Edinburgh in 1685, the son of Patrick Haliburton and Jane Erskine of Shielfield.[1]

He was elected Dean of Guild in 1739 and Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1740 and was succeeded by John Coutts in 1742.[2]

He died on 3 September 1742 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard.[3]

After his death two of his shops at the foot of West Bow on the Grassmarket passed to John Hamilton, cordiner (shoemaker).[4]

Family

He was married to Elizabeth Rutherford, widow of his cousin, Thomas Rutherford. They had three daughters:.[5]

A second marriage bore him two sons, John and David, the latter of whom inherited Muirhouselaw.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jane Haliburton.
  2. The Lord Provosts of Edinburgh by Marguerite Wood
  3. Genealogical Memoirs of the Family of Sir Walter Scott p.33
  4. Popular Politics in the Reign of George II: The Edinburgh Cordiners by R A Houston
  5. Genealogical Memoirs of the Family of Sir Walter Scott p.34