Robert Pitcairn's grave New Calton Cemetery

Robert Pitcairn (14 August 1793 – 11 July 1855) was a Scottish antiquary and scholar who contributed to works published by

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 (n ...

and the

Bannatyne Club The Bannatyne Club, named in honour of George Bannatyne and his famous anthology of Scots literature the Bannatyne Manuscript, was a text publication society founded by Sir Walter Scott to print rare works of Scottish interest, whether in history ...

. He was the author of ''Criminal Trials and other Proceedings before the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland (1829-1833)''. He was head of the Edinburgh Printing and Publishing Company and secretary of the Calvin Translating Society Pitcairn was a fellow of the

Society of Antiquaries of Scotland The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body of Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh. The Society's aim is to promote the cultural heritage of Scotland. The usua ...

, and a Writer to His Majesty’s Signet, and a member of the

Maitland Club The Maitland Club was a Scottish historical and literary club and text publication society, modelled on the Roxburghe Club and the Bannatyne Club. It took its name from Sir Richard Maitland (later Lord Lethington), the Scottish poet. The club was ...

Life

He was born in Edinburgh in 1793, second son of Jean Kincaid and Robert Pitcairn (1749-1828), Principal Keeper at Register House. He was first cousin to

William Fettes Pitcairn William Fettes Pitcairn (1804–1891) was a Scottish theological author. Life He was born in Edinburgh on 14 October 1803 the son of Alexander Pitcairn (1746–1819), a wealthy merchant, by his second wife, Jane Trotter. He was first cousin to ...

. He trained as a lawyer and was admitted to the Society of Writers to HM Signet on 21 November 1815. He was a friend and collaborator of

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' ...

, often obtaining historical information for his use. He lived more or less opposite Scott, at 50 Castle Street in

Edinburgh's New Town The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It was built in stages between 1767 and around 1850, and retains much of its original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture. Its best known street is Princes Stree ...

(now known as North Castle Street). He married Hester Hine Hunt, daughter of Henry Hunt, on 4 September 1839. He died of

heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, hea ...

in Edinburgh in 1855. He is buried in

New Calton Cemetery New Calton Burial Ground is a burial ground in Edinburgh. It was built as an overspill and functional replacement to Old Calton Burial Ground and lies half a mile to its east on Regent Road in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the south-east slopes of Ca ...

with his wife and children in a vault adjacent to the Stevenson vault.

Publications

*''Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland'' (1833) *''Collections Relative to the Funeral of Mary Queen of Scots'' (1822) *''Historical and Genealogical Account of the Principal Families of the surname of Kennedy'' (1830)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pitcairn, Robert (antiquary) 1793 births 1855 deaths Scottish antiquarians Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 19th-century Scottish historians