On February 12th 1624 George Heriot, goldsmith to King James VI and founder of Heriot’s School, died.
There's not a lot konwn about his early years, but George Heriot was probably born in Edinburgh, where he followed his father into a career as a goldsmith. His premises consisted of a booth near St.Giles in Edinburgh. In 1588 he was made a member of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths and was elected their Deacon in 1593.
He became very wealthy through money lending, and his clients included King James VI. James appointed George goldsmith to his queen, Anne of Denmark, in 1597 and, in 1601, he was appointed jeweller and goldsmith to the king himself. When James succeeded to the English throne,
Heriot moved to London and set up at the Court of St James in London. He was widowed twice. He married Christian Marjoribanks in 1586. She died about 1603. His second wife, Alison, the 16 year old daughter of Archibald Primrose, writer in Edinburgh, whom he married in 1609, died during her first pregnancy in 1612.
He died on this day 1624 and was buried at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London. His legendary wealth inspired the character of ‘Jinglin’ Geordie’ in Sir Walter Scott’s novel ‘Fortunes of Nigel’ and in turn the Jinglin’ Geordie bar on Fleshmarket Close just off Cockburn Street.
He left no surviving legitimate children, but bequeathed a substantial amount for the provision of a hospital school in his home city for 'puir faitherless bairns’. His hospital is now George Heriots School, Heriot-Watt University also perpetuates his name.
