According to Robert Louis Stevenson, “ In one of those little shops plastered like so many swallow’s nests among the buttresses of the old cathedral (St Giles) that familiar autocrat James VI would gladly share a bottle of wine with George Heriot the goldsmith.”
Heriot was the eldest of ten children born in 1653 into a family of some standing. His father also a goldsmith was the Deacon Convener of Incorporated Trades and as such a Commissioner for Edinburgh and Member of the Scottish Parliament.
With such powerful connections, Heriot senior ensured that his son received introductions to the elite of the capital’s society in preparation for him joining what the head of the family called, “The most lucrative trade in the kingdom.”
At the age of 23, George, thanks to the generosity of his father had set up his first workshop containing a forge, bellows and other tools of the trade in a cramped space a mere seven feet square set against the grey walls of St Giles Cathedral.
Two years later, his business had prospered and even members of the royal family had become customers.
However, the key to his dazzling success lay across the North Sea in the hands of Anne a young Danish princess (Anne of Denmark)
King James VI
In keeping with the traditions of the time, King James VI of Scotland needed a suitable bride, to be chosen from the most eligible ladies of the European courts.
It was in the spring of 1590 that James and his new wife sailed into the Firth of Forth and landed at Leith.
Heriot’s future was assured when to the fanfare of trumpets his appointment as Goldsmith to the new queen was announced at the Cross of Edinburgh in July 1597.
Fortunately for him, few members of the royal court were as addicted as the queen to the extravagant “bestowal of diamond rings and other valuable trinkets and ornaments.”
With his fortunes growing and surplus funds available, he was often approached for financial help and became a discreet moneylender, in essence the crown’s banker.
With the state coffers often empty the extravagant Anne was known on many occasions to have asked the royal jeweller for an advance of money pledging her most precious jewels as security. Even a simple journey like travelling from the Palace of Holyrood House to Stirling to visit her son was a problem when there was no money available. On such an occasion she would write to her favourite banker, “Gordg Heriatt, I ernestlie dissyr youe send me tua hundrethe pundes…”
With the death of English Queen, Elizabeth I in March 1603, the crowns of Scotland and England united under James the son of Mary Queen of Scots.
Within a few weeks James, now with the added title of James I of England and most of the Scottish royal court including Heriot left for London. Of course, the king required new finery and jewellery worthy of his elevated position and Heriot was happy to oblige supplying a range of gold and diamond rings.
Once in London George Heriot prospered anew as a jeweller but also invested heavily in land and property.
After a long illness he died in February 1624, his will showing the extent of his wealth: land, property, jewels and needless to say large sums of money still owed by the royal family.
Much of this money was left to build a hospital for the poor and orphaned of his hometown of Edinburgh.
This hospital which looks down on the Grassmarket is now a world famous Edinburgh school. His memory is also perpetuated by Heriot Watt University, while Sir Walter Scott incorporated him into his novel, The Fortunes of Nigel.
