Andrew Crosbie facts for kids
Andrew Crosbie of Holm (1736–1785) was a Scottish lawyer and a very smart person who loved history and old things. He was an important part of the Scottish Enlightenment, a time when many new ideas about science, philosophy, and art came out of Scotland. Andrew Crosbie was a close friend of James Boswell, a famous writer. Together, they even wrote a fun legal song called The Justiciary Opera, which Scottish lawyers sang for many years.
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His Early Life and Education
Andrew Crosbie was born in a town called Dumfries in Scotland. He was the only son of Andrew Crosbie, who was the leader (called a provost) of Dumfries. Andrew went to school at Dumfries Academy when he was young.
He decided to study law at the University of Edinburgh. In 1757, he became a lawyer, joining the Faculty of Advocates.
Helping Others and Facing Challenges
In 1769, Andrew Crosbie and his friend James Boswell helped to give money to rebels in Corsica. These rebels were fighting for their freedom under a leader named Pasquale Paoli.
Around 1770, Andrew started building his own house in a new part of Edinburgh called St Andrew Square. However, he faced big money problems in 1772. A bank he was involved with, called Douglas, Heron & Co, failed. This caused him to lose a lot of money.
Joining Important Societies
Andrew Crosbie was a member of several important groups.
- In 1783, when the Edinburgh Philosophical Society became the Royal Society of Edinburgh, he automatically became a founding member. This was a very important society for science and learning.
- He was also a co-founder of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1780. This group was dedicated to studying old things and history.
- In 1784, just a couple of months before he passed away, he was chosen to be the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates.
Andrew Crosbie was also part of a social group called The Poker Club. He was good friends with James Boswell and another famous writer, Samuel Johnson.
A Character in a Book
Andrew Crosbie was so well-known that he inspired a character in a famous book! Sir Walter Scott based the character Councillor Pleydell in his novel Guy Mannering on Andrew Crosbie.
His Final Years
Andrew Crosbie lived in different places in Edinburgh's Old Town, close to the main courts where he worked. Later, he moved to a new house in the New Town.
He passed away on February 25, 1785. He was buried in a grave at Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh, but the exact spot is not marked today.
Family Life
Andrew Crosbie was married to Elizabeth Barker. After he died, the Faculty of Advocates, the group of lawyers he belonged to, gave his wife a pension of £50 each year.
How He is Remembered
A famous artist named David Martin painted a portrait of Andrew Crosbie. The painting shows him in his lawyer's robes, speaking in a courtroom. After he died, his wife gave this painting to the Faculty of Advocates. You can still see it today in Parliament House, Edinburgh, which is part of the Edinburgh Law Courts.
As mentioned before, the character Councillor Paulus Pleydell in Scott's novel Guy Mannering was based on Andrew Crosbie.
