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

Life

Ord was born the son of John Ord, Under-Sheriff of

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

, of Newbiggin, Fenham and Newminster, Northumberland, and his wife, Anne Hutchinson. He studied law at

Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...

in London from 1718, and was called to the bar in 1724. In 1723 he was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of London The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, r ...

. He inherited the estates of Hunstanworth Manor and Newbiggin Hall 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. 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 The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in post-nominals; ) is a public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ...

1767/8. Ord died aged 77. He is buried in

Restalrig Restalrig ( ) is a small residential suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland (historically, an estate and independent parish). It is located east of the city centre, west of Craigentinny and to the east of Lochend, Edinburgh, Lochend, both of which it ...

Churchyard in

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

. His modest gravestone dates from the 19th century and describes him as

Baron of the Exchequer The Barons of the Exchequer, or ''barones scaccarii'', were the judges of the English court known as the Exchequer of Pleas. The Barons consisted of a Chief Baron of the Exchequer and several puisne (''inferior'') barons. When Robert Shute was ...

for Scotland.

Family

Ord married Mary, daughter of Sir John Darnell, Kt. They had one son,

John Ord John Ord (1729–1814) was an English barrister and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1774 to 1790. Life The son of Robert Ord and Mary Darnell, he was educated at Newcome's School in Hackney and Trinity College, Cambridge. He ...

, and five daughters. The fifth daughter, Alice (1745-1826) married John Mackenzie of Dolphinton. Margaret died on

Princes Street Princes Street () is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, Edinburgh, New Town, stretching around 1.2 km (three quar ...

in 1806. Both are buried in Restalrig. His daughter Elizabeth Ord (1742-1820) married

Robert McQueen, Lord Braxfield Robert McQueen, Lord Braxfield (4 May 1722 – 30 May 1799) was a Scottish advocate and judge. Life McQueen was born at Braxfield House near Lanark on 4 May 1722, son of John McQueen. He studied law at Edinburgh University and was admitted to ...

and is also buried in Restalrig. His daughter Nancy Ord infamously placed a placard on the house of

David Hume David Hume (; born David Home; – 25 August 1776) was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist who was best known for his highly influential system of empiricism, philosophical scepticism and metaphysical naturalism. Beg ...

on the south-west corner of St Andrew Square reading "St David Street". Although St David is a Welsh rather than Scottish saint, the city was amused by the idea and the name stuck.Edinburgh and its Environs: Wardlock Guide

Arms

References

Royal Society archive- Robert Ord
1700 births 1778 deaths Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Mitchell Fellows of the Royal Society Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Morpeth British MPs 1734–1741 British MPs 1741–1747 British MPs 1747–1754 British MPs 1754–1761 Barons of the Court of Exchequer (Scotland) {{England-GreatBritain-MP-stub