William Miller, Lord Glenlee

Sir William Miller, Lord Glenlee, 2nd baronet of Glenlee, FRSE (1755-1846) was a Scottish advocate, law lord and landowner.

Marker stone to Lord Glenlee, New Calton Burial Ground
Sir William Miller, Lord Glenlee
Cameo of William Miller, Lord Glenlee
The tomb of Sir William Miller, Lord Glenlee, New Calton Burial Ground

Life

He was born on 12 August 1755 the only son of Sir Thomas Miller, Lord Glenlee by his first wife, Margaret Murdoch. He was educated at the High School in Edinburgh then studied law at the University of Edinburgh. He passed the Scottish bar and became an advocate in 1777.

He was the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh 1780-1781. He became Clerk of the Justiciary in 1783.

In 1783 he was a co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He served as the Society's Vice President from 1816 until 1846. In 1789 on the death of his father, he inherited the baronetcy.[1] In 1795 (already a baronet) he was given the title Lord Glenlee, as a law lord, the same title which his father had held.

His Edinburgh townhouse was at 17 Browns Square.[2]

He retired in 1840 and died on 9 May 1846 at his country mansion at Barskimming. He is buried in a vault in the north-east corner of New Calton Burial Ground in Edinburgh.[3]

Aged 19 he was involved in a case involving James Boswell in the trial of John Reid. The trial was resolved by William's uncle, Patrick Miller, who was also a judge.[4]

In 1781 he also spoke in defence of Sir Hugh Palliser's appointment at Greenwich Hospital.

Family

In 1777 he married his cousin Grizel Chalmers, daughter of George Chalmers of Pittencrieff near Dunfermline, a wealthy grain merchant.[4]

Their three daughters and six sons included Grizel Martha, Martha Miller, John Miller of Stewartfield WS and Thomas Miller.[5]

His uncle was Patrick Miller of Dalswinton. His second son Major William Miller of the Royal Horse Guards is buried in the New Calton vault with Lord Glenlee.[6]

Artistic recognition

His portrait by William Walker is held in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.[7]

His caricature was also created by John Kay in 1799.[8]

He was also sketched by Robert Scott Moncrieff around 1820.

References

  1. Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X.
  2. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1840-41
  3. Grave of Sir Wm Miller, New Calton
  4. "MILLER, William (1755-1846), of Glenlee, Kirkcudbright Stewartry and Barskimming, Ayr. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  5. "Sir William Miller, 2nd Baronet, Lord Glenlee". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  6. Inscription in the vault of Lord Glenlee, New Calton
  7. "Sir William Miller, Lord Glenlee, 1755 - 1846. Scottish judge". National Galleries of Scotland. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  8. "Sir William Miller, 2nd Bt, Lord Glenlee - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
Baronetage of Great Britain
Preceded by
Thomas Miller
Baronet
(of Glenlee)
1789–1846
Succeeded by
William Miller


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