Handyside Edgar facts for kids
Dr Handyside Edgar (sometimes written Handasyde Edgar) was a Scottish doctor who lived from 1754 to 1806. He moved to Jamaica where he worked as a physician and also owned large farms called plantations. After he died, a well-known legal case happened in Scotland. It was about whether debts made in one country had to be paid in another.
His family had a long history. He was connected to General Roger Handasyd, who was an early governor of Jamaica. His family's roots went back to Edgar of Wedderlie, who owned land in Scotland a very long time ago.
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Dr. Handyside Edgar's Life
Early Life and Education
Handyside Edgar was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on March 27, 1754. His father, Alexander Edgar, also owned land in Leith, where Handyside spent much of his childhood.
He studied to become a doctor at Glasgow University. He earned his medical degree in 1776. He was friends with Colin Lauder during his college days.
Life in Jamaica
Later in the 1700s, Handyside Edgar moved to Jamaica with his brother. They managed two large farms there: the Wedderlie Estate and the Osborne Estate. The Wedderlie Estate was named after his family's old home in Scotland. He also had relatives already living in Jamaica.
Dr. Edgar worked as a physician in different parts of Jamaica, including Trelawney and Montego Bay.
In 1786, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a special group for important scientists and thinkers.
He passed away in Jamaica on June 8, 1806, and was buried in St James Churchyard there.
A Legal Case After His Death
After Dr. Edgar's death, there was a disagreement about his will. It was between his brother, Alexander Edgar, and Sir Simon Haughton Clarke. The case went to court in Edinburgh in 1810. The main question was about who was responsible for paying a Scottish debt when the person handling the will was from England.
Dr. Edgar's Family Connections
He married Mary Simpson in Jamaica on March 6, 1792. She was from Bounty Hall, Jamaica. After Dr. Edgar died, Mary moved back to Britain and passed away in London in 1819.
His uncle, Peter Edgar, was the father-in-law of the famous Scottish painter, Sir Henry Raeburn. This meant that Dr. Edgar's cousin, Ann Edgar, was Sir Henry Raeburn's wife. Because of these connections, the two families often spent time together at social events.
