Henry Jardine


Sir Henry Jardine of Harwood WS FRSE was a solicitor, antiquarian and a founder member of the Bannatyne Club in 1823, with his friend Sir Walter Scott.

Life

He was born in Edinburgh on 30 January 1766. He was the son of Jean Drummond, daughter of George Drummond, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Rev John Jardine, minister of the Tron Kirk on the Royal Mile. He attended the High School in Edinburgh and then studied law at the University of Edinburgh. Following graduation he was apprenticed to John Davidson WS based on Castlehill on the Royal Mile.
In 1790 he was winner of the Edinburgh Arrow as finest archer in the Royal Company of Archers.
He became a Writer to the Signet in 1790 and in 1793 took the important government role of Solicitor of Taxes, through the patronage of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. From 1820 until 1831 he was King's remembrancer in the exchequer throughout the reign of King George IV.
In 1814 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were George Steuart Mackenzie, Henry Mackenzie, and Thomas Charles Hope. In 1818 he was of those present with Sir Walter Scott at the rediscovery of the Honours of Scotland. In November 1819 he was present at the opening of the grave of Robert Bruce, inspection of the remains, and the re-interment in a new leaden coffin which was then completely filled with hot pitch to exclude air and preserve the bones.
In the 1820s one of his apprentices in his rooms at Parliament Square was William Forbes Skene.
He was knighted in 1825.
He retired in 1837 with a pension of £1,400 per annum, a considerable sum for the time.
He died on 11 August 1851 aged 85 at his home 123 Princes Street in Edinburgh.
He is buried in Canongate Churchyard alongside his grandfather, George Drummond, just west of the entrance gate.
A bursary was founded in his name at the University of Edinburgh by George Parker Bidder, whose education at the university had been assisted by Jardine.

Freemasonry

Jardine Affiliated to Lodge Holyrood House, No.44, on 21 February 1783. He had previously been Initiated into Scottish Freemasonry in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, No.2.

Family

He married Catherine Skene in 1794. She was the sister of Andrew Skene and James Skene of Rubislaw. They had six daughters and four sons. His daughter Catherine Jardine married twice: firstly to Captain John Street of the Royal Artillery; secondly to Sir George Steuart Mackenzie. His youngest daughter Henrietta Jardine married Dr William Cullen, grandson of the William Cullen.

Publications