Born on 25 July 1791, Hill was educated in Edinburgh and Lincolnshire before moving to Glasgow in 1812. He here entered his family's long-established legal practice.
He was the factor for the College of Glasgow from 1819-1872, and was associated with numerous institutions in Glasgow and its neighbouring counties. He campaigned for improvements to the road system and in 1832 promoted, unsuccessfully, the first bill for a Glasgow to Edinburgh railway. He was involved with the Garnkirk to St Rollox railway, the first line in Scotland on which locomotives were used, and was active in the construction of the Glasgow Necropolis. From 1835 he campaigned to improve the quality of the Clyde by removing Glasgow sewage to the Ayrshire coast.
Hill retired from business in 1840 and subsequently lived in Ayr, Edinburgh and in the New Forest. In 1856 he returned to Barlanark, where he died on 21 February 1872.
LAURENCE HILL, LL.D., of Barlanark, writer in Glasgow, was born in Edinburgh on 25th July, 1791. His father was Laurence Hill, W. S., his mother Christian Dreghorn.
The family records show an unbroken connection with Glasgow since 1549, when James Hill was inducted as "Parson of Govan." The original deeds of his appointment, confirmation, and installation, dated respectively 14th, 17th, and 19th June of that year, still existing, afford interesting illustration of the form of procedure at inductions in the Romish Church, and contrast curiously with the "Call" given by the Presbyterian heritors of the Barony Parish of Glasgow in 1749, exactly 200 years afterwards, to his lineal descendant Laurence Hill, then one of the ministers of Kilmarnock, who, it is worthy of note, was the first of the few instances in the burgh records of Glasgow of the appointment of a minister to the honorary burgess roll of the city.
James Hill above mentioned became in 1558 (1) the first Protestant "Reader" or "Exhorter" of Cathcart. Subsequently in 1571 he received a gift of the Parsonage of Erskine.(2) Latterly he became possessed of the lands of Ibrox, Dumbreck, and others in Govan. He married Marion Leitch prior to the year 1580,(3) and by her left two sons, whose families can both be traced, viz., Thomas, the progenitor of Mr. Hill, and a younger son, William, from whom sprang numerous descendants both in Govan and Greenock.
The grandson of James Hill, viz., Ninian Hill of Garioch, "Merchant Burgess" of Glasgow, and subsequently, through his wife, of Lambhill, married Helen, youngest sister and one of the co-heiresses of George and Thomas Hutcheson, the founders of the well-known Hospital and Schools in Glasgow of that name.
Their son Ninian Hill, also of Lambhill, maintained in an ultra degree the Presbyterian proclivities of the family, having the honour of suffering imprisonment with other West Country lairds for attending Conventicles, and of being fined by the Privy Council (4) (20th July, 1676) in 1000 merks, which possibly may account for the sale shortly afterwards to the Magistrates of Glasgow of his lands of Ramshorn and Meadowflatt. Consequent on the payment of this fine he received the certificate of his registration or patent of arms from Sir Charles Araskine of Cambo, Lyon King, of date 19th July, 1676, a "matriculation," from the objects for which it was originally designed to serve, not then so highly esteemed as now. Not only therefore by their family connection, during successive generations, but from their patrimonial and business relations, the Hills can probably boast of as ancient and complete a hereditary connection with Glasgow as any now existing.
Mr. Hill, the subject of this memoir, obtained his early education in the High School of Edinburgh, and afterwards under the then celebrated Mr. Jerrom, of Long Sutton, Lincolnshire. Returning to Edinburgh he resumed the companionship, maintained through after years, of Andrew Rutherfurd, Henry Cockburn, Thomas Campbell the poet, and others, the reminiscences of whose early friendships are graphically and elegantly described in a memoir (5) by Lord Moncrieff, of the late John Richardson, parliamentary solicitor, who married Mr. Hill's only sister.
In 1812 Laurence Hill came to Glasgow, entering into partnership with his uncle, James Hill of Gartloch, and succeeding his grandfather, James Hill of Cartside, in a business which then for nearly a century had been conducted by members of his family.(6)
Mr. Hill was a sound lawyer, probably with too great love for the science of feudal conveyancing, in connection with the reform of which, however, in 1845-7 Lord Rutherfurd's letters to him express indebtedness for information on many difficult points.
Besides an extensive private practice Mr. Hill held office in many important Institutions. He was factor for the College of Glasgow from 1819 until his death in 1872, and possibly in recognition of his long and faithful services he received from the University in 1863 the honorary degree of LL.D. Dr. Hill was however a classical scholar of no mean attainments, having, for a layman, an extensive knowledge of Greek and Hebrew literature. During his life he held office as clerk to the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons; Crown receiver of the Archbishopric revenues of Glasgow; secretary to the Royal Botanic Institution, in the origination of which, with the late Thomas Hopkirk, he took a leading part; chamberlain to the Royal Incorporation of Hutchesons' Hospital; secretary of Millar's Educational Trust, and numerous other Institutions in Glasgow, as well as Road Trusts in Lanark, Renfrew, and neighbouring counties.
While his business connection with Glasgow lasted he took a deep interest in public matters. Along with Mr. Wallace of Kelly, he greatly aided in the initiatory steps which led to the reduction in the postal rates. From his early youth he concerned himself greatly with works of an engineering and kindred description, and to him the West of Scotland is indebted for many improvements on the then imperfect road system of the country. Through his instrumentality the co-operation of influential gentlemen in Glasgow and elsewhere was secured, by which, under the engineering skill of his friend, the celebrated Sir Thomas Telford, the road between Glasgow and Carlisle, and other roads in the West Country, were entirely remodelled. Among other acknowledgments of this Mr. Hill received and highly valued the burgess-ship of Lanark conferred honoris causa in 1826.(7)
With the celebrated George Stephenson and Mr. Thomas Grainger as their engineers, Mr. Hill, having secured the aid of many well-known citizens of Glasgow, promoted in 1832 the first bill for an Act to construct the railway between Glasgow and Edinburgh, but without success, the influence of the proprietors of the competing Forth and Clyde Navigation and the Bathgate and Airdrie and other road trusts being then too powerful an opposition, and difficulty being also found in providing the necessary capital, which was in those days not easily raised.
Previous to this, with the late Mr. Charles Tennant of St. Rollox and Mr. Mark Sprot of Garnkirk - by whose wife the first sod was cut in August, 1827 - Mr. Hill was concerned in the formation of the Garnkirk Railway from St. Rollox to Garnkirk. This, it may be mentioned, was the first railway in Scotland on which locomotives were used. The first engine, named the "St. Rollox," was carted from Newcastle to Glasgow, and its "trial trip" took place at 2 a.m. on 24th June, 1831, Mr. Hill with his eldest son riding on the tender. The engine had the mishap to leave the rails near the Cumbernauld Road, knocking down the wall of the toll-keeper's house, but otherwise doing no injury.
The Fir Park or Glasgow Necropolis, which was the first, as it is probably the finest, cemetery of its kind in Great Britain, was projected by Mr. Hill while collector of the Merchants' House, and was carried into effect through the wise and liberal foresight and enterprise of the late James Ewing of Strathleven, then Lord Dean of Guild, and his co-directors of the Merchants' House.(8) The Sighthill Cemetery also owes its origin to Mr. Hill's efforts.
With the late Mr. James Adams, C.E., whose reclamation of the "Barr Meadows" at Lochwinnoch is well known, Mr. Hill had frequent communication in 1835 on the subject of the utilization of the waste waters of the River Clyde. Under different conditions, in 1850 and subsequently, Mr. Hill endeavoured to promote the purification of the Clyde by removal of the sewage of Glasgow to the sandy wastes on the Ayrshire coast. In this endeavour he interested the late Earl of Glasgow, Lord Eglinton, Mr. Patrick Boyle of Shewalton, and others, and grants in aid having been obtained from the Corporation of Glasgow and certain public-spirited individuals in the intermediate counties, reports as to the feasibility and cost of the scheme were obtained from the late Professor W. J. Macquorn Rankine of Glasgow and Mr. T. W. Kennard of London, and submitted to the City Corporation in 1859. The plan recommended was adopted in its entirety, but with slight acknowledgment, by Messrs. Bateman & Bazelgette, C.E., who reported on this important subject in 1868.
Had sewage alone been what was to be disposed of, the scheme originated by Mr. Hill, and recommended by the above-mentioned talented engineers, would ere this have doubtless been in operation; but the deleterious effect of the refuse of chemical and other works, by decreasing the manurial value of the sewage, apparently forms an effectual bar to its profitable application.
In 1840 Mr. Hill practically retired from business. In that year he went to reside in Ayr, and afterwards in Edinburgh. Subsequently he lived on a property he purchased at Burley, in the New Forest, Hampshire. In 1856 he returned to his residence at Barlanark, where, after somewhat lengthened visits to Canada, he died on 21st February, 1872.
Mr. Hill was twice married - first to Barbara, daughter of James Hopkirk of Dalbeth, and second to his cousin, Marion Hill, daughter of Ninian Hill, W.S., by both of whom he left a numerous family, some of whom still survive.
(1) "Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae," part III, p. 59.
(2) "Book of the Universal Kirk of Scotland," vol. i., p. 572.
(3) Charter by the Archbishop of Glasgow in their favour, dated 30th May, 1580.
(4) Burnet's "History," also Crookshank's, vol. i., pp. 389 and 393, and Woodrow's "Church History," vol. ii. p. 321.
(5) "North British Review" of December, 1864.
(6) In his notes on the lands of Easter and Wester Craigs, written in 1866, the late venerable and esteemed antiquary, Dr. John Buchanan, referring to the late Mr. Robert Grahame of Whitehill, a near relative of the subject of this memoir, makes interesting allusion to the length of time during which professional connection with Glasgow has been maintained in certain families and firms. He mentions that Mr. Thomas Grahame, father of Robert, entered the Faculty of Procurators in the year 1751, assuming as his partner his son-in-law, Archibald Grahame, who joined the Faculty in 1772, the firm being Thomas & Archibald Grahame. Archibald subsequently becoming cashier of the Thistle Bank, Mr. Thomas Grahame assumed his son Robert, under the firm of Thomas & Robert Grahame. In 1802, Mr. Thomas Grahame being then deceased, Robert Grahame assumed as his partner Mr. Andrew Mitchell, under the firm of Grahame & Mitchell, the business of which is conducted at the present day by descendants of Mr. Mitchell, with their partners, under the firm of Mitchells, Cowan & Johnston, writers, Glasgow. Dr. Buchanan adds, "Thus the business of this eminent house has been in existence 116 years, and is the oldest in Glasgow except one. That exception is Messrs. Hill, Davidson & Hoggan, the business of that also highly respectable firm having originated with Mr. James Hill, senr., as far back as 1740, whose son during an extended period was the Dean of Faculty, whose grandson, Laurence Hill, LL.D., for many years continued the business, and whose great-grandson is the compiler of the present 'History of the Merchants' House,' and now holds the office of collector. It is further interesting to record that Messrs. Hill have been continuously clerks to the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons since 1757, and that they held the important. office of collectors of the Merchants' House seventy years, viz., from 1767 to 1837, when the collectorship and clerkship were combined, and a gentleman appointed to devote his whole time to the duties. Indeed, one of Mr. Hill's ancestors was not only a lawyer in extensive practice in Glasgow upwards of 230 years ago, but was the first banker in this city. I allude to Mr. George Hutcheson, one of the benevolent founders of Hutchesons' Hospital, who died in 1639.
(7) It may not be without interest to notice that, previous to the improvements referred to, travellers from Glasgow to Greenock were necessitated either to walk or ride, or to charter a wherry. Going and returning the same day was out of the question. After the improvement of the Greenock Road, however, "long coaches," on six wheels, accomplished the journey in about three hours, and at a moderate charge. Soon, however, the greater facilities of steam navigation on the Clyde, introduced by Henry Bell, superseded the conveniences of the road, while in its turn the river steamer has, between Glasgow and Greenock, been largely superseded by the railway locomotive.
On the Carlisle Road, before being superseded by the railway, the stage-coach travelling ultimately vied with, if it did not actually surpass in speed, that on any other route in Britain.
(8) In the interesting sketches of the Necropolis by the late James Blair it is stated that the project of its formation first took practical shape at a meeting in Mr. James Ewing of Strathleven's house in Queen Street on 15th July, 1828, there being present, besides Mr. Ewing, Mr. Dennistoun of Golfhill, Mr. Mackenzie of Craig Park, Mr. Laurence Hill, and Mr. Douglas of Barloch, when the following resolution was agreed to be recommended to the Merchants' House:- "That the Fir Park appears admirably adapted for a Pere la Chaise, which would harmonize beautifully with the adjacent scenery and constitute a solemn and appropriate appendage to the venerable structure in the front, and which, while supplying a much needed want, would convert an unproductive property into a source of profit to a most valuable charitable institution"; and Mr. Blair thus refers to Mr. Hill's connection with its final completion - "To estimate the full importance of converting the Merchants' Park into a garden cemetery, it must be remembered that this was the first thing of the kind attempted in Scotland, that it conflicted in some degree with national or religious prejudices, that in a sanitary view it inaugurated a new era in Glasgow, and set an example to other towns, which was speedily followed throughout the kingdom. No inconsiderable credit is due to those who were chiefly instrumental in promoting this important improvement, and therefore we consider it a simple act of justice to state that though the late Mr. Ewing of Strathleven appeared, from his prominent official position, and his hearty zeal in the cause, as the principal leader in the movement, yet there were other public-spirited citizens who actively co-operated with that gentleman, and to some of whom, perhaps, the credit is due of making the original suggestion. Among these may be prominently mentioned Laurence Hill, Esq., LL.D., at that time Collector to the Merchants' House, who laboured with the utmost ardour to urge this enlightened improvement, and afterwards commenced a periodical work on the Necropolis, to which we are indebted for some of the historical facts contained in this chapter."
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