Robert Grahame of Whitehill
Robert Grahame of Whitehill (1759–1851) was an 18th/19th century Scottish lawyer who served as Lord Provost of Glasgow 1833 to 1834.
Life
He was born in Glasgow in 1759 the son of Thomas Grahame a lawyer (d.1791)[1] and trained as a lawyer.[2]
Around 1797 he purchased Whitehill House, from John Gordon[3] but previously the home of John Glassford (who built the mansion).[4]
In 1820 he was living at 52 Miller Street with his office next door at 51 Miller Street.[5]
He was elected Lord Provost of Glasgow in 1833 in Succession to James Ewing of Strathleven and was succeeded by William Mills in 1834.[6] By 1835 he was living on the Whitehill estate with his wife and children and with his parents. His father is listed as partner in the legal firm of Mitchell, Grahame & Mitchell and he presumed to be in the same company.[7]
He sold Whitehill House to the Glasgow merchant John Reid around 1845 and moved to England.[8]
He died on 28 December 1851 in Hatton Hall near Wellingborough.[9]
After Grahame's death, Whitehill House was later bought by Alexander Dennistoun, whose name now survives in the area where the house stood; Dennistoun. It is remembered in the streetname Whitehill Street.[10]
Family
He married Helen Geddes and they had two sons and two daughters. His son Thomas married Hannah Finlay daughter of Kirkman Finlay.[11]
Artistic representation
His portrait was painted by Chester Harding. The portrait is held in Glasgow Resource Centre.[12]
His wife Helen was portrayed by Sir Henry Raeburn.[13]
References
- "Thomas Grahame". 1733.
- Illustrated Catalogue of the Exhibition of Portraits in the New Galleries of Art in Corporation Buildings
- "Whitehill House".
- "TheGlasgowStory: Whitehill House".
- Glasgow Post Office Directory 1820
- "Provosts of Glasgow". 5 May 2017.
- Glasgow Post Office Directory 1835
- "Whitehill House".
- "Robert Grahame of Whitehill". 19 September 1759.
- "TheGlasgowStory: Whitehill House".
- "Whitehill House".
- "Robert Grahame (1759–1851), Lord Provost of Glasgow (1833–1834) | Art UK".
- Illustrated Catalogue of the Exhibition of Portraits in the New Galleries of Art in Corporation Buildings