Andrew Rutherfurd, Lord Rutherfurd

Lauriston Castle

Rutherfurd was born at Bristo Port[1] (near Greyfriars Kirkyard) in Edinburgh on 21 June 1791 to Janet Rutherfurd[2] and Reverend William Greenfield. In 1799 the family changed their name to Rutherfurd, his mother's maiden name, after his father was disgraced in a sex scandal.[3]

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

In the 1830s he is listed as an advocate living at 9, St Colme Street, on the Moray Estate in Edinburgh's west end.[4] His house was remodelled by William Notman in 1835, whilst working in the offices of William Henry Playfair.[5]

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.

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).[6]

On 2 January 1849 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, his proposer being John Russell.[7]

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.

His main house was Lauriston Castle near Cramond just north-west of the city.

He died at his Edinburgh townhouse 9 St Colme Street, on 13 December 1854.[8] He is buried on Lord's Row, against the western wall of Dean Cemetery, in western Edinburgh, beneath a red granite pyramid designed by William Henry Playfair and built by Stewart McGlashan.[9][10] 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".)[11]

He married Sophia Frances Stewart in 1822. She died in 1852 and is buried with him. They had no children.

His sister married John Gordon FRSE (1786-1818) father of John Thomson Gordon FRSE (1813-1865)

• 
  Grave in the Dean Cemetery
• 
  Andrew Rutherfurd and his wife, Sophia
• 
  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)

• George William Thomson Omond, "The lord advocates of Scotland: 2d series, 1834–1880", A. Melrose Ltd, 1914, pp. 47–49

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Andrew Rutherfurd
• "Rutherfurd, Andrew" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.