Correspondence of Andrew, Lord Rutherfurd (1791-1854)

The correspondence consists of: a letter to Mr. Gore about the ruins of Dundrennan Abbey, 1840; letters from Lady Rutherfurd to D. R. Hay, 1851; and, letter to Professor C. P. Smyth, 1851.

Andrew Rutherfurd was born on 13 December 1791. He was educated at the Royal High School in Edinburgh and then studied at Edinburgh University. He became an advocate in 1812 and soon built up a practice. In 1833 he was appointed as a member of the Commission of Inquiry into the State of the Laws and Judicatories of Scotland. In 1837, during Lord Melbourne's second administration, Rutherfurd was appointed Solicitor-General for Scotland. In 1839 he was promoted to Lord Advocate and also became the MP for Leith Burghs. In 1840 he saw the Bill for the Amendment of the Scottish Law of Evidence through the Commons. In 1845 he was installed as Rector of Glasgow University, and that same year he spoke in Edinburgh in favour of the repeal of the Corn Laws. He had resigned as Lord Advocate when Sir Robert Peel came to power in 1841 but was re-appointed by Lord Russell in 1846. Andrew, Lord Rutherfurd, died on 13 December 1854.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of national biography. Vol.17. Robinson-Sheares. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1909.

Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

The local Indexes show other references to Rutherfurd related material (check the Indexes for more details): letter to Rutherfurd from D. R. Hay, 1851, at Dc.2.59; letter to Rutherfurd from Baillie Veitch, 1840, at Gen. 1995/81; and, notice of Rutherfurd in a letter of Professor C. P. Smyth, 1851, at Dc.3.99/6, f.24. In addition, the UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes: correspondence and papers, 1795-1854, National Library of Scotland, Manuscripts Division, Ref. MSS 9686-9728; Ch 8896-8907; letters (228) to Lord Panmure, 1837-1854, National Archives of Scotland, Ref. GD45 NRA 17164 Ramsay see NRA(S)0805; letters to Lady Moncrieff, Private, Ref. NRA(S)0333 NRA 10980 Moncreiff; letters to Daniel Ellis, Gloucestershire Record Office, Ref. D1501,2227 NRA 11418 Viner-Ellis; letters to Sir William Napier, 1820-1837, Oxford University: Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts, Ref. MS Eng lett c 248 NRA 13979 Napier; and correspondence with Lord John Russell, 1845-1854, Ref. PRO30/22 NRA 8659 Russell.