Sir Alexander Keith of Dunnottar and RavelstonWSFSA ScotFRSE (1736–1819) was an 18th and 19th century Scottish landowner, lawyer and reformer. A co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, its Keith Medal is named in his honour.
He was the eldest son of Johanna (née Swinton) and Alexander Keith of Ravelston and Dunnottar (1705-1792), Depute Clerk of Session.[2] The family owned both Dunnottar Castle in northern Scotland and Ravelston House, just west of Edinburgh (fragments of which survive and are called Old Ravelston House). His grandfather, also Alexander Keith, had acquired the latter estate from John Foulis of Ravelston via Archibald Primrose of Dunipace in 1726.[3] The Dunnotar estate was purchased in 1766.[4]
He was apprenticed as a lawyer in Edinburgh, first to Hew Crawford then to John MacKenzie, the latter having offices at Horse Wynd off the Royal Mile.[5]
He died at Dunnottar Castle on 26 February 1819 and is buried in St Clement's Churchyard in Aberdeen. A family memorial also exists on the west gable of Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh.
Following his death he left £600 to the Royal Society of Edinburgh to establish the Keith Medal, awarded every two years to a prominent mathematician or scientist within the Society.
Family
He was married to Christian Forbes.[1] Their eldest son was also Sir Alexander Keith of Dunnottar (1768-1832) was knighted a baronet during the visit of George IV to Scotland in 1822.[5] He is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard.
References
^ ab"Person Page". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
^"Alexander Keith, of Ravelston and Dunottar d. Abt 1800: MacFarlane Clan & Families Genealogy". www.clanmacfarlanegenealogy.info. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
^"Edinburgh, Ravelston Dykes Road, Old Ravelston House | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
^"Keith". www.electricscotland.com. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
alexander, keith, dunnottar, ravelston, scot, frse, 1736, 1819, 18th, 19th, century, scottish, landowner, lawyer, reformer, founder, royal, society, edinburgh, keith, medal, named, honour, dunnottar, castle, ravelston, house, clements, churchyard, keith, medal. Sir Alexander Keith of Dunnottar and Ravelston WS FSA Scot FRSE 1736 1819 was an 18th and 19th century Scottish landowner lawyer and reformer A co founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh its Keith Medal is named in his honour Dunnottar Castle Ravelston House St Clements churchyard The Keith MedalLife EditHe was born on 30 September 1736 1 He was the eldest son of Johanna nee Swinton and Alexander Keith of Ravelston and Dunnottar 1705 1792 Depute Clerk of Session 2 The family owned both Dunnottar Castle in northern Scotland and Ravelston House just west of Edinburgh fragments of which survive and are called Old Ravelston House His grandfather also Alexander Keith had acquired the latter estate from John Foulis of Ravelston via Archibald Primrose of Dunipace in 1726 3 The Dunnotar estate was purchased in 1766 4 He was apprenticed as a lawyer in Edinburgh first to Hew Crawford then to John MacKenzie the latter having offices at Horse Wynd off the Royal Mile 5 He qualified as a Writer to the Signet in 1763 then became Clerk to the Signet In 1783 he was a founding fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh He served as the Society s first treasurer and continued this role until 1798 6 Around 1790 Alexander Keith of Dunnottar built a new mansionhouse at Ravelston in the Adam style 7 His offices were at 43 Queen Street in Edinburgh s New Town 8 He died at Dunnottar Castle on 26 February 1819 and is buried in St Clement s Churchyard in Aberdeen A family memorial also exists on the west gable of Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh Following his death he left 600 to the Royal Society of Edinburgh to establish the Keith Medal awarded every two years to a prominent mathematician or scientist within the Society Family EditHe was married to Christian Forbes 1 Their eldest son was also Sir Alexander Keith of Dunnottar 1768 1832 was knighted a baronet during the visit of George IV to Scotland in 1822 5 He is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard References Edit a b Person Page thepeerage com Retrieved 28 July 2018 Alexander Keith of Ravelston and Dunottar d Abt 1800 MacFarlane Clan amp Families Genealogy www clanmacfarlanegenealogy info Retrieved 28 July 2018 Edinburgh Ravelston Dykes Road Old Ravelston House Canmore canmore org uk Retrieved 28 July 2018 Keith www electricscotland com Retrieved 28 July 2018 a b Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1773 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 16 April 2018 Buildings of Scotland Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1818 This Scottish biographical article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Keith of Dunnottar amp oldid 1129415147, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
