Andrew Rutherfurd 1791-1854

Lord Andrew RUTHERFURD or GREENFIELD 1791-1854

Biographical Note

A judge and politician, born Andrew Greenfield in Edinburgh to William Greenfield and Janet Bervie. Educated at Edinburgh high school and the University of Edinburgh. Passed advocate in June 1812; married Sophia Frances in 1822. Appointed to the commission of inquiry into the state of the laws and courts of Scotland in 1833; made solicitor-general for Scotland in 1837; made lord advocate and elected to the House of Commons as member for Leith burghs in 1839, resigned as lord advocate in 1841 and was reappointed in 1846. Appointed an ordinary lord of session in 1851. Chosen lord rector of Glasgow University in 1844.

He had a strong knowledge of Greek and particularly Italian. His library was formed at Lauriston Castle, a 'fine library' (ODNB).

Books

Rutherfurd's library was sold at auction soon after his death by Mr T. Nisbet at 11 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, over 11 days from Thursday 22 March 1855. This sale comprised 2573 lots, some lots including multiple books. It included 'Greek and Latin classics, literary history, antiquities, philology, English and Scottish history, French and Italian history and belles lettres, mathematics, the fine arts, privately printed books, law and general literature', and sets of privately printed works for the Bannatyne Club, Maitland Club, Abbotsford and other clubs, many bound in old morocco and fine calf gilt. It also included various books on Byzantine history, such as lot 193, which included 39 volumes on Byzantine history uniformly bound in old French calf gilt.

The sale catalogue describes this as the "most valuable and important library that has ever been brought to sale in Scotland". There was a separate sale of china, pictures, silver and wines, also in Edinburgh by T. Nisbet, 7 April 1855, 548 lots (NLS K.R.16.f.7(14)).

Sources

• Catalogue of the extensive and valuable library of the late Right Hon. Lord Rutherfurd ... which will be sold by auction by Mr. T. Nisbet ... on ... March 22, 1855, etc. (Edinburgh, 1855) [NLS K.R.16.f.7(13); NLS L.C.1050; NLS L.C.1051(1)]
• Barker, G. F. R., and H. J. Spencer. "Rutherfurd [formerly Greenfield, Andrew, Lord Rutherfurd (1791–1854), judge and politician.]" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 23 Sep. 2004; Accessed 3 Jul. 2023.