George Heriot (died 1610)
Encyclopedia
George Heriot was a Scottish
goldsmith
and member of the Parliament of Scotland
. He is perhaps best known as the father of the philanthropist George Heriot
, his eldest son.
George Heriot, who had moved to Edinburgh
around the start of the sixteenth century, and Christian Kyle, an Edinburgh native. Heriot was a member of an established Haddingtonshire family; his grandfather, John Heriot, had been given four hundred acres of land at Trabourn by the Earl of Douglas
in return for military service.
He had become a freeman of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh by 26 June 1561 and was elected to be a quarter-master of the Incorporation on that date [Edinburgh Goldsmiths' Minutes vol.I, A22, f.8r.]. He became a burgess of the City of Edinburgh on 4 August 1562. He was elected Deacon of the Incorporation for the years 1565-67, 1575–76, 1579, 1583–85, 1586–87, 1589–91, 1594–96, 1603–04 and 1607-08 [ibid, various refs.]. He was also elected deacon-convener of the Incorporated Trades of the city on five separate occasions. Heriot represented the City of Edinburgh in the Parliament of Scotland
on a number of occasions between 1585 and 1607. In 1596 he was one of the representatives from Edinburgh sent to meet with King James VI in order to placate him after a major riot that December which had caused the king to flee the city. In 1597 he was appointed to a commission to set the value of foreign gold and silver money brought into the country, and in 1599 to one which studied how to reissue the circulating coinage
. His last parliamentary act was in 1607, when he was appointed to a commission to assess a tax for the purpose of printing Regiam Majestatem
, an edition of the old laws of Scotland.
, was born on 15 June 1563, followed by a second son Patrick and a daughter Margaret. A natural son, David, was legitimated in Edinburgh on 24 May 1593. Heriot later remarried, to Christian Blawe, with whom he had sons James and Thomas (born 1603), and four daughters, Christian, Sybilla, Janet and Marion. Christian survived him, and remarried in 1626; she was still alive in 1637.
[What is the documentary evidence for George Heriot having been married Elizabeth Balderstone? It seems more probable that she was his stepmother, i.e., the second wife of the first George Heriot, goldsmith, according to latest information; this is an important question which needs sorting, as there is much confusion in the printed sources. Original documentary evidence is needed.]
On his eldest son George's marriage in 1586, Heriot gave him 1500 merks, in order that he could establish his own shop; he would go on to become jeweller and goldsmith to Queen Anne
and King James VI, and amass a large fortune, which he bequeathed to establish Heriot's Hospital in Edinburgh.
Of his other children, Patrick moved to Genoa
, where he married into an Italian family and died sometime before 1623. whilst Margaret married twice. David also took up his father's business, and his son, also David, would become known as a "celebrated" goldsmith; the elder David died before 21 January 1623/4, and the younger David in 1661. James succeeded as court jeweller after his brother's death, and married Elizabeth Jossey or Joyce, the daughter of the Keeper of the Robes, in January 1624/5. Christian, Janet and Marion were all married by 1623, whilst Sibylla married in 1626.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
and member of the Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
. He is perhaps best known as the father of the philanthropist George Heriot
George Heriot
George Heriot was a Scottish goldsmith and philanthropist. He is chiefly remembered today as founder of George Heriot's School, a large private school in Edinburgh; his name has also been given to Heriot-Watt University, as well as several streets in the same city.Heriot was the court goldsmith...
, his eldest son.
Career
He was the son of the goldsmithGoldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
George Heriot, who had moved to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
around the start of the sixteenth century, and Christian Kyle, an Edinburgh native. Heriot was a member of an established Haddingtonshire family; his grandfather, John Heriot, had been given four hundred acres of land at Trabourn by the Earl of Douglas
Earl of Douglas
This page is concerned with the holders of the extinct title Earl of Douglas and the preceding feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, son of Sir Archibald Douglas, Guardian of Scotland...
in return for military service.
He had become a freeman of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh by 26 June 1561 and was elected to be a quarter-master of the Incorporation on that date [Edinburgh Goldsmiths' Minutes vol.I, A22, f.8r.]. He became a burgess of the City of Edinburgh on 4 August 1562. He was elected Deacon of the Incorporation for the years 1565-67, 1575–76, 1579, 1583–85, 1586–87, 1589–91, 1594–96, 1603–04 and 1607-08 [ibid, various refs.]. He was also elected deacon-convener of the Incorporated Trades of the city on five separate occasions. Heriot represented the City of Edinburgh in the Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
on a number of occasions between 1585 and 1607. In 1596 he was one of the representatives from Edinburgh sent to meet with King James VI in order to placate him after a major riot that December which had caused the king to flee the city. In 1597 he was appointed to a commission to set the value of foreign gold and silver money brought into the country, and in 1599 to one which studied how to reissue the circulating coinage
Scottish coinage
The coinage of Scotland covers a range of currency and coins in Scotland during Classical antiquity, the reign of ancient provincial kings, royal dynasties of the ancient Kingdom of Scotland and the later Mediaeval and Early modern periods....
. His last parliamentary act was in 1607, when he was appointed to a commission to assess a tax for the purpose of printing Regiam Majestatem
Regiam Majestatem
The Regiam Majestatem is the earliest surviving work giving a comprehensive digest of the Law of Scotland. The name of the document is derived from its first two words...
, an edition of the old laws of Scotland.
Family
He married Elizabeth Balderstone, his first wife, sometime before 1563; their first son, GeorgeGeorge Heriot
George Heriot was a Scottish goldsmith and philanthropist. He is chiefly remembered today as founder of George Heriot's School, a large private school in Edinburgh; his name has also been given to Heriot-Watt University, as well as several streets in the same city.Heriot was the court goldsmith...
, was born on 15 June 1563, followed by a second son Patrick and a daughter Margaret. A natural son, David, was legitimated in Edinburgh on 24 May 1593. Heriot later remarried, to Christian Blawe, with whom he had sons James and Thomas (born 1603), and four daughters, Christian, Sybilla, Janet and Marion. Christian survived him, and remarried in 1626; she was still alive in 1637.
[What is the documentary evidence for George Heriot having been married Elizabeth Balderstone? It seems more probable that she was his stepmother, i.e., the second wife of the first George Heriot, goldsmith, according to latest information; this is an important question which needs sorting, as there is much confusion in the printed sources. Original documentary evidence is needed.]
On his eldest son George's marriage in 1586, Heriot gave him 1500 merks, in order that he could establish his own shop; he would go on to become jeweller and goldsmith to Queen Anne
Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark was queen consort of Scotland, England, and Ireland as the wife of King James VI and I.The second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark, Anne married James in 1589 at the age of fourteen and bore him three children who survived infancy, including the future Charles I...
and King James VI, and amass a large fortune, which he bequeathed to establish Heriot's Hospital in Edinburgh.
Of his other children, Patrick moved to Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, where he married into an Italian family and died sometime before 1623. whilst Margaret married twice. David also took up his father's business, and his son, also David, would become known as a "celebrated" goldsmith; the elder David died before 21 January 1623/4, and the younger David in 1661. James succeeded as court jeweller after his brother's death, and married Elizabeth Jossey or Joyce, the daughter of the Keeper of the Robes, in January 1624/5. Christian, Janet and Marion were all married by 1623, whilst Sibylla married in 1626.