Robert Ord facts for kids
Lord Robert Ord (born in 1700, died on 12 February 1778) was an important British lawyer and politician. He was known for his work in law and for serving in the British Parliament. He also held several high-ranking positions in the government and legal system.
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Robert Ord's Early Life and Career
Robert Ord was born in 1700. His father, John Ord, was a legal official in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a city in England.
Robert studied law in London at a famous place called Lincoln's Inn starting in 1718. He became a lawyer in 1724. In 1723, he was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society of London, which is a group for important scientists and thinkers. When his older brother Ralph passed away, Robert inherited family estates, which are large properties.
Serving in Parliament
Robert Ord became a Member of Parliament (MP), which means he was elected to represent people in the British government. He served for two different areas:
- From 1734 to 1741, he represented Mitchell in Cornwall.
- From 1741 to 1755, he represented Morpeth in Northumberland.
Important Government Roles
During his career, Robert Ord held several important jobs:
- He was a Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1742 to 1743. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is like a country's finance minister.
- He was the Deputy Cofferer of the Household from 1743 to 1744. This role involved managing the royal household's finances.
- From 1755 to 1775, he was the Chief Baron of the Scottish Exchequer. This was a very high legal position in Scotland, overseeing financial cases.
- He also served as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Durham from 1753 to 1764, which was a legal role within the church.
In 1767 and 1768, he was the Rector of Glasgow University in Scotland. This was an honorary position, often held by influential public figures.
Robert Ord passed away at the age of 77. He is buried in Restalrig Churchyard in Edinburgh, Scotland. His gravestone, which was placed later in the 1800s, describes him as a Baron of the Exchequer for Scotland.
Robert Ord's Family
Robert Ord married a woman named Mary Darnell. They had one son, John Ord, and five daughters.
One of his daughters, Alice (born 1745, died 1826), married John Mackenzie. Another daughter, Margaret, passed away in Edinburgh in 1806. Both Alice and Margaret are also buried in Restalrig.
His daughter Elizabeth Ord (born 1742, died 1820) married Robert McQueen, Lord Braxfield. She is also buried in Restalrig.
St David Street Story
His daughter Nancy Ord is famous for a funny story involving the philosopher David Hume. She once put a sign on David Hume's house in Edinburgh that read "St David Street." Even though Saint David is a Welsh saint, not Scottish, people in the city found it amusing, and the street is still called St David Street today!
