Jump to content

Robert Ord

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Right Hon. Robert Ord FRS MP (1700 – 12 February 1778) was a British lawyer and politician.

Life

The grave of Robert Ord, Restalrig, Edinburgh

Ord was born the son of John Ord, Under-Sheriff of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, of Newbiggin, Fenham and Newminster, Northumberland, and his wife, Anne Hutchinson.[1]

He studied Law at Lincoln's Inn in London from 1718, qualifying as an advocate in 1724. In 1723 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London.[2] He inherited the estates of Hunstanworth and Newbiggin upon the death of his elder brother Ralph Ord.

He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Mitchell, Cornwall, from 1734 to 1741 and for Morpeth, Northumberland, from 1741 to 1755.[3]

He was Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1742–43), Deputy Cofferer of the Household (1743–44), Chief Baron of the Scottish Exchequer (1755–75) and Chancellor of the Diocese of Durham (1753–64).

He was Rector of Glasgow University 1767/8.[4]

Ord died aged 77. He is buried in Restalrig Churchyard in Edinburgh. His modest gravestone dates from the 19th century and describes him as Baron of the Exchequer for Scotland.

Family

Ord married Mary, daughter of Sir John Darnell, Kt. They had one son, John Ord, and five daughters.[5] The fifth daughter, Alice (1745-1826) married John Mackenzie of Dolphinton. Margaret died on Princes Street in 1806. Both are buried in Restalrig.[6]

His daughter Elizabeth Ord (1742-1820) married Robert McQueen, Lord Braxfield and is also buried in Restalrig.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Geni Web - Robert Ord".
  2. ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Robert Ord
  3. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 3)
  4. ^ https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH1154&type=P
  5. ^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1895). "Ord, Robert" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 42. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  6. ^ "Scottish Records".
  7. ^ "Scottish Records".
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Mitchell
1734–1741
With: Thomas Watts
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Morpeth
1741–1755
With: Sir Henry Liddell to 1747
Viscount Limerick 1747–54
Thomas Duncombe from 1754
Succeeded by