The Royal Company of Merchants of the City of Edinburgh, previously known as the Merchant Company of Edinburgh is a

mercantile Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct exch ...

company and

Guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometim ...

officially recognised in 1681, but dating back to at least 1260. The Company, or Confraternity, was created to publicly represent, and protect the trading rights, of the merchants of the

royal burgh A royal burgh () was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished by law in 1975, the term is still used by many former royal burghs. Most royal burghs were either created by ...

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

. Today, it continues to serve as a forum for businesses people and professionals operating in the City of Edinburgh. It also carries out a significant amount of charitable and educational work. Along with the Incorporated Trades it forms part the Burgess Association of Edinburgh, an umbrella organisation for the trade bodies of the City of Edinburgh, who are discharged to propose individuals to the Edinburgh Lord Dean of Guild and Deacon Convener of the Trades to be made a Burgess of Edinburgh. Historically this was an important power, as being a Burgess was a necessity for anyone wanting to earn a living in Edinburgh. Both the Merchants' Company and the Incorporated Trades held formal roles within the governance of the City of Edinburgh, and sat on the

City Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural coun ...

, until local government reforms in the late 20th century. Since then the public roles of the organisations have pivoted to primarily focus on the civic and ceremonial.

History

Early days

has a long history as a trading city. Prior to the

Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...

there was a

Merchants A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as industry ...

in the city. However, there was a great rivalry between the Merchants and the craftsmen of the city, the latter forming the ''Incorporated Trades'' in the early 16th century. The Merchants - as many guilds in cities of the time - came to have a significant say in the running of the city. The Trades wanted to share in this power, and "constant bickering" ensued between them and the Merchants, who were unwilling to relinquish any. In 1583,

James IV James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 until his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He inherited the throne at the age of fifteen on the death of his father, James III, at the Battle of Sauch ...

issued a decree Arbitral, sharing places on the town council between the Merchants and the Trades, but giving one more seat to the Merchants. By the late 1670s, the Merchants wished to consolidate their position and petitioned Charles II. In 1681, the King responded by granting a charter creating the Merchant Company of Edinburgh, which was ratified by the Parliament of Scotland in 1693. The 1681 formation had 82 members. By 1691, the Company had prospered and purchased a new meeting hall in the

Cowgate The Cowgate ( Scots: The Cougait) is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about southeast of Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street is part of the lower level of Edinburgh's Old Town, which lies below the eleva ...

in the Old Town by Magdalen Chapel (the hall was previously the house of Lord Oxenforde and cost the Company £670 Sterling). The Company decorated its hall with 119 animal skins of Black Spanish leather stamped with Gold markings and turned an adjacent waste ground into a

bowling green A bowling green is a finely laid, close-mown and rolled stretch of turf for playing the game of bowls. Before 1830, when Edwin Beard Budding of Thrupp, near Stroud, UK, invented the lawnmower, lawns were often kept cropped by grazing sheep ...

. Since 1365 the Merchants of the city had sold their goods at the Mercat Cross, but in 1760 a new building called the Royal Exchange was opened (intended to rival the Royal Exchange in London), designed to provide a new venue for the Merchants to meet. The Merchants however preferred to meet at the Mercat Cross, and continued to meet at the site even though the original Mercat Cross was demolished in 1756. The Merchant Company was founded in order to protect trading rights in the City of Edinburgh. In keeping with its Guild origins, as its members shared many common interests, it took an interest in the running of the city, covering such fields as taxation, postal services and the city's water supply. Mary Erskine's grave, Greyfriars Kirkyard

Mary Erskine's grave, Greyfriars Kirkyard

A further Royal Charter in 1777 amended provisions for the regulation of the Company's affairs, and it was reincorporated by the Edinburgh Merchant Company Act of 1898. In 1788, the Company moved to a new purpose built meeting hall at Hunter Square, near the Tron Church. The company was also involved in educational and charitable work. As it grew in importance and repute, charitable trusts were often left to the Company to be administered. In this way the Company came to operate several hospital schools: the ''Merchant Maiden Hospital'' (now the Mary Erskine School), ''George Watson's Hospital'' (now

George Watson's College George Watson's College is a co-educational independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a hospital school in 1741, became a day school in 1871, and was m ...

), ''Daniel Stewart's Hospital'' (now part of Stewart's Melville College) and ''James Gillespie’s Hospital and Free School'' (now

James Gillespie's High School James Gillespie's High School is a state-funded secondary school in Marchmont, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a comprehensive high school, educating pupils between the ages of 11 and 18, situated at the centre of Edinburgh. Edinburgh Castle and Ho ...

, handed over to management of Edinburgh School Board in 1908).

Reform

The 19th century was a time of significant changes for the Merchant Company. The company's trade monopoly was ended - along with those of other guilds - in 1849 by the Trading Within Burghs Act. Nevertheless the company continued to play an active role in issues affecting the city, and it flourished. At the same time, the hospital school system was falling into disrepute. A Royal Commission had been established to consider the provision of education for the masses; its report changed the rules pertaining to educational trusts. The company wished to consolidate and preserve its position, and took advantage of this; in fairly short order, the hospitals were transitioned to be principally

day school A day school — as opposed to a boarding school — is an educational institution where children and adolescents are given instructions during the day, after which the students return to their homes. A day school has full-day programs when compa ...

s in 1870. In 1879, the Company moved to its current location on Hanover Street, taking over the former premises of the

City of Glasgow Bank The City of Glasgow Bank was a bank in Scotland that was largely known for its spectacular collapse in October 1878, which ruined all but 254 of its 1,200 shareholders since their liability was unlimited. History The bank was founded in 1839 wi ...

which had failed. The Company was granted the title "Royal" by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on 11 December 2017, during the Master-ship of Donald S F Young. This honour was bestowed upon the company by the

Lord Lyon King of Arms The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants ...

, The Reverend Canon Dr Joseph John Morrow, at a Company meeting in February 2018.

Today

The company operates as a modern business forum, whilst retaining some of its ancient traditions and privileges. It holds social and networking events and continues to manage the substantial charitable and educational foundations under its care. The company's schools are operated by the Merchant Company Education Board, a

registered charity A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a ch ...

under Scottish law. The company's

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...

, granted in 1693, comprises elements reflecting the importance of world-wide trade, the Royal Charter status the company holds, and its origins as a merchants' guild. The company's motto is ''Terraque Marique'' — "by land and by sea". The company headquarters is the Merchants' Hall on Hanover Street in Edinburgh. Along with The Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh they are members of The Court of Deans of Guild of Scotland. The immediate past Master of the Royal Company of Merchants is granted the ancient title of Lord Dean of Guild.

Membership

Membership of the Merchant Company is open to those who carry on any of a range of businesses, trades and professions. New members are required to be elected by the Master's Court. Members must reside or carry on their business or trade either in Edinburgh or within 20 miles of General Register House in Edinburgh.

Former Masters

* Thomas Jamieson Boyd 1869-71 * Josiah Livingston 1881-1882 *John Clapperton 1873-1874

References

External links

The Merchant Company of Edinburgh
*

(formerly ''George Watson's Hospital'') * Mary Erskine School (formerly the ''Merchant Maiden Hospital'') * Stewart's Melville College (incorporating ''Daniel Stewart's Hospital'') *

(formerly ''James Gillespie’s Hospital and Free School'') {{authority control Livery companies Organisations based in Edinburgh 1681 establishments in Scotland Education in Edinburgh Organizations established in the 1680s