Adam Rolland of Gask FRSE (1734–1819) was a Scottish judge and philanthropist. He was co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, personal friend of

Lord Melbourne William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, (15 March 177924 November 1848), in some sources called Henry William Lamb, was a British Whig politician who served as Home Secretary (1830–1834) and Prime Minister (1834 and 1835–1841). His first pre ...

and the basis of the character of Paul Pleydell in the novel ''

Guy Mannering ''Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer'' is the second of the Waverley novels by Walter Scott, published anonymously in 1815. According to an introduction that Scott wrote in 1829, he had originally intended to write a story of the supernatural, ...

'' by

Sir Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels '' Ivanhoe'', '' Rob Roy' ...

Life

He was born in 1734 the son of his namesake, Adam Rolland of Gask. His early education was in Dunfermline. He then studied law at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

alongside Ilay Campbell and

Andrew Crosbie Andrew Crosbie of Holm FRSE FSAScot (1736–1785) was a Scottish lawyer and antiquarian, and a notable figure of the Scottish Enlightenment. He was a close friend and companion of James Boswell and with him co-wrote the legal song ''The Jus ...

, and qualified as an advocate in 1758. He became an expert on feudal law and later sat as a Judge on the Court of Session. He retired as a judge around 1800, and had an attack of

apoplexy Apoplexy () is rupture of an internal organ and the accompanying symptoms. The term formerly referred to what is now called a stroke. Nowadays, health care professionals do not use the term, but instead specify the anatomic location of the bleedi ...

. He also became severely deaf. He served as Depute Governor of the

Bank of Scotland The Bank of Scotland plc (Scottish Gaelic: ''Banca na h-Alba'') is a commercial and clearing bank based in Scotland and is part of the Lloyds Banking Group, following the Bank of Scotland's implosion in 2008. The bank was established by th ...

1816 until death, replacing Patrick Miller of Dalswinton in this role. He died at his home, 15 Queen Street in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

on 18 August 1819. He is buried with his family in St Cuthbert's Churchyard in the city centre. The grave lies against a wall, north-west of the church.

Legacies

Whilst his estates went to his children he left £13,000 to a number of charitable projects (the equivalent of several million in modern terms). These monies went largely to hospitals and asylums and promotion of Christian interests. The most important donation was £1000 to create a school for the poor in Dunfermline, and the oddest was £500 to the Society for the Suppression of Begging. The Free School in Dunfermline was responsible for the free education of

Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie (, ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans i ...

and debatedly Rolland's philanthropy may have inspired Carnegie's. Monies left to his family were used to build Luscar House in Dunfermline.The History of Dunfermline from the Earliest Records, A Mercer His will is held by

The National Archive National archives are central archives maintained by countries. This article contains a list of national archives. Among its more important tasks are to ensure the accessibility and preservation of the information produced by governments, both ...

at Kew.

Family

He was married to Ann Rolland (died 1837) and had several children including: Mary Rolland; Adam Rolland (1763–1837); Robert Rolland RN (died on board HMS Wellesley in 1829); John Rolland (a surgeon). Their grandson was James Rolland (who came to fame in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

), and their granddaughter Susan Rolland married Rev

Robert Rainy Robert Rainy (1 January 1826 – 22 December 1906), was a Scottish Presbyterian divine. Rainy Hall in New College, Edinburgh (the Divinity faculty in Edinburgh University) is named after him. Life He was born on New Year's Day 1826 at 28 M ...

Artistic recognition

Rolland was painted by

Sir Henry Raeburn Sir Henry Raeburn (; 4 March 1756 – 8 July 1823) was a Scottish portrait painter. He served as Portrait Painter to King George IV in Scotland. Biography Raeburn was born the son of a manufacturer in Stockbridge, on the Water of Leith: a ...

c.1800. It is now held in the Art Institute of Chicago.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rolland, Adam 1734 births 1819 deaths Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 18th-century Scottish judges Alumni of the University of Edinburgh People from Fife Scottish philanthropists Bank of Scotland people