Robert Grahame of Whitehill explained

Robert Grahame of Whitehill (1759 - 1851) was an 18th/19th century Scottish lawyer who served as Lord Provost of Glasgow 1833 to 1834.

Life

He was born in Glasgow in 1759 the son of Thomas Grahame a lawyer (d.1791)[1] and trained as a lawyer.[2]

Around 1797 he purchased Whitehill House, from John Gordon[3] but previously the home of John Glassford (who built the mansion).[4]

In 1820 he was living at 52 Miller Street with his office next door at 51 Miller Street.[5]

He was elected Lord Provost of Glasgow in 1833 in Succession to James Ewing of Strathleven and was succeeded by William Mills in 1834.[6] By 1835 he was living on the Whitehill estate with his wife and children and with his parents. His father is listed as partner in the legal firm of Mitchell, Grahame & Mitchell and he presumed to be in the same company.[7]

He sold Whitehill House to the Glasgow merchant John Reid around 1845 and moved to England.[8]

He died on 28 December 1851 in Hatton Hall near Wellingborough.[9]

After Grahame's death, Whitehill House was later bought by Alexander Dennistoun, whose name now survives in the area where the house stood; Dennistoun. It is remembered in the streetname Whitehill Street.[10]

Family

He married Helen Geddes and they had two sons and two daughters. His son Thomas married Hannah Finlay daughter of Kirkman Finlay.[11]

Artistic representation

His portrait was painted by Chester Harding. The portrait is held in Glasgow Resource Centre.[12]

His wife Helen was portrayed by Sir Henry Raeburn.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thomas Grahame. 1733 .
  2. Illustrated Catalogue of the Exhibition of Portraits in the New Galleries of Art in Corporation Buildings
  3. Web site: Whitehill House.
  4. Web site: TheGlasgowStory: Whitehill House.
  5. Glasgow Post Office Directory 1820
  6. Web site: Provosts of Glasgow. 5 May 2017.
  7. Glasgow Post Office Directory 1835
  8. Web site: Whitehill House.
  9. Web site: Robert Grahame of Whitehill. 19 September 1759 .
  10. Web site: TheGlasgowStory: Whitehill House.
  11. Web site: Whitehill House.
  12. Web site: Robert Grahame (1759–1851), Lord Provost of Glasgow (1833–1834) | Art UK.
  13. Illustrated Catalogue of the Exhibition of Portraits in the New Galleries of Art in Corporation Buildings