Alexander Runciman (1736 - 1785)

Born 15 Aug 1736 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Ancestors

Died 21 Oct 1785 at age 49 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lorna Henderson [send private message]

Biography

Name

Name: Alexander /Runciman/ ^[1]

A Short Extract from 1911 Encyclopedia Brittanica:

RUNCIMAN, ALEXANDER (1736-1785), Scottish historical painter, was born in Edinburgh in 1736. He studied at Foulis's Academy, Glasgow, and at the age of thirty proceeded to Rome, where he spent five years. It was at this time that he became acquainted with Fuseli. The painter's earliest efforts had been in landscape; he soon, however, turned to historical and imaginative subjects, exhibiting his “Nausicaa at Play with her Maidens” in 1767 at the Free Society of British Artists, Edinburgh. On his return from Italy, after a brief residence in London, where in 1772 he exhibited in the Royal Academy, he settled in Edinburgh, and was appointed master of the Trustees' Academy. He was patronized by Sir James Clerk, whose hall at Penicuik House he decorated with a series of subjects from Ossian.

WebLinks

WikiPedia^[2]

Runciman One Name Study ^[3]

Birth

Date: 15 AUG 1736

Place: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland^[4][5][6][7]

Christening

Date: 22 AUG 1736

Place: Canongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Note: entry (indexed in margin as Runciman) reads: James Runciaman Wright in Edinr And Marg: (ie Margaret, it's definitely a g, not a y, with the : to signify missing letters!) Smith his Spouse had a Son born 15 August bap: 22 Namd Alexr Wit: John Jack Baillie of Canongate And Geo: Willson Chyrurgeon there^[8]

Death

Date: 21 OCT 1785

Place: West Nicholson Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Note: 'Collapsed in street outside his lodgings'^[9][10]

Alternate Date: 4 OCT 1785

Place: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Note: From Wikipedia, although another biographical dictionary (Chalmers) has 21st Oct

A brief note appeared in both the London Chronicle, and in the Morning Herald and Daily Advertiser, both London papers, on Nov 24th and 25th respectively, referring to the "monument of his genius and taste". The 21st does seem rather closer to his burial on the 24th Oct.^{[11][12][13][14]}

Burial

Date: 24 OCT 1785

Place: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Note: Entry reads: "Alexander Opp. D Hunter's B. Pt aged 52 years, Decay". FindAGrave</a>^[15][16]

Memorial:

Place: The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Note: A memorial to Alexander and his artist brother John is placed on an exterior wall of the Church.^[17]

Apprenticeship

Date: 04 APR 1750

Place: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Note: His apprenticieship indexed as: Runciman, Alexr., s. to James R., freeman wright in Portsburgh, p. to Robert Norrie & Coy., painters 04 Apr 1750;^[18][19]

Occupation

Date: 1771

Place: College of Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Note: took charge of the Academy on death of De la Cour and Pavillon; ^[20]

Descendants

Is there a surviving line of descendants?

Searches have as yet not identified the fate of his natural son John, silversmith in London before 1802. Any takers? Refer to Source References for further detail. ^[21][22]

Residence

Date: 1784

Place: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Note: entry reads "Runciman Alex. painter 87 Chapel St"^[23]

Marriage

(Parents)

Husband: James Runciman

Wife: Mary Smith

Child: Jean Runsiman

Child: Alexander Runciman

Child: Eleanora Runciaman

Child: John Runciaman

Marriage:

Date: 07 NOV 1735

Place: Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland

Note: entry reads: "James Runciman Wright in Edinr & Mary Smith in this Paroch gave in their Names on Saturday Octbr 25th and after Proclamation were married on friday November 7th"^[24][25]

Reference

Reference: 66832

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S3088 Family of James & Margaret (SMITH) RUNCIMAN, rcvd Feb 2010
2. ↑ Source: #S2449 Page: Alexander RUNCIMAN (15 August 1736 - 4 October 1785), online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Runciman, extracted Feb 2010
3. ↑ Source #S3:
4. ↑ Source: #S2449 Alexander RUNCIMAN (15 August 1736 - 4 October 1785), online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Runciman, extracted Feb 2010
5. ↑ Source: #S55 Birth 15 Aug Bap. 22 Aug 1736 Alexander s/o James RUNCIAMAN (wright in Edinr) & Margaret SMITH, Canongate Par, MLN 685/003 0080 0244, copy d/loaded Feb 2010
6. ↑ Source: #S3239 Canongate - 685/03 0080 0244 1736
7. ↑ Source: #S3238
8. ↑ Source: #S55 Birth 15 Aug Bap. 22 Aug 1736 Alexander s/o James RUNCIAMAN (wright in Edinr) & Margaret SMITH, Canongate Par, MLN 685/003 0080 0244, copy d/loaded Feb 2010
9. ↑ Source: #S3239 Canongate - 685/03 0230 0457
10. ↑ Source: #S3238
11. ↑ Source: #S2449 Alexander RUNCIMAN (15 August 1736 - 4 October 1785), online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Runciman, extracted Feb 2010
12. ↑ Source: #S3090 Alexander RUNCIMAN (1736, Edinburgh - 21 Oct 1785), extracted Feb 2010
13. ↑ Source: #S3091 Obituary [Alexander] RUNCIMAN, "the painter, who lately died at Edinburgh", from London Chronicle (London, England), Thursday, November 24, 1785; Issue 4528, extracted Feb 2010
14. ↑ Source: #S55 Bur. 24 Oct 1785 Alexander RUNCIMAN, aged 52, Canongate, MLN 685/03 0230 0273, copy d/loaded Feb 2014
15. ↑ Source: #S2811 Alexander RUNCIMAN 1736-1785, Canongate Cemetery, entry Originally Created by: Connie Nisinger; Record added: Jun 28, 2005; Find A Grave Memorial# 11258126, extracted Dec 2010
16. ↑ Source: #S55 Bur. 24 Oct 1785 Alexander RUNCIMAN, aged 52, Canongate, MLN 685/03 0230 0273, copy d/loaded Feb 2014
17. ↑ Source: #S3238
18. ↑ Source: #S3089 Apprenticeship 4 Apr 1750 Alexr RUNCIMAN, s. to James R., freeman wright in Portsburgh, p. to Robert Norrie & Coy, painters, Book 1837.index entry extracted Feb 2010
19. ↑ Source: #S2342 20 Oct 1762 Alexr RUNCIMAN, painter, B., as p. to Robert NORIE, painter, B., from Vol 5 Register of Marriages (as indexed); Collection Edinburgh Midlothian Roll of Burgesses & Guild Brethren 1761-1841, (Huison-Ziegler), index entry rcvd from Sandra G, Dec 2014
20. ↑ Source: #S2868 'Biographical Sketch of Alexander Runciman' from The Scots Magazine, Sunday 1 Aug 1802, pg 619, extracted May 2013
21. ↑ Source: #S108 Midlothian births to a father Alexander R*N*M*N*, index searched Feb 2010
22. ↑ Source: #S2868 John natural son of Alexander RUNCIMAN artist, from 'Biographical Sketch of Alexander Runciman' from The Scots Magazine, Sunday 1 Aug 1802, pg 622, extracted (thanks to Alan R) May 2013
23. ↑ Source: #S3237 1784/5 Alex RUNCIMAN, painter, Chapel St, Williamson's directory for the City of Edinburgh, Canongate, Leith and Suburbs, pg 75, extracted May 2013
24. ↑ Source: #S55 Birth 15 Aug Bap. 22 Aug 1736 Alexander s/o James RUNCIAMAN (wright in Edinr) & Margaret SMITH, Canongate Par, MLN 685/003 0080 0244, copy d/loaded Feb 2010
25. ↑ Source: #S55 Marr. 7 Nov 1735 James RUNCIMAN & Mary SMITH, Kilwinning, AYR, 599/00 0030 0019, copy rcvd from Alan R, May 2013

• Source: S108 OPR Midlothian Scotlands People (RUNCIMAN & variants) Births 1538-1854http://scotlandspeople.gov.uk Repository: #R146
• Repository: R146 Name: Scotlands People (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/) Address: City: Edinburgh State: Midlothian Country: Scotland
• Source: S2342 Miscellaneous RUNCIMAN web searches and correspondence
• Source: S2449 Wikipedia, Url: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
• Source: S2811 Find A Grave, Url: http://findagrave.com
• Source: S2868 Google Books, Url: books.google.com
• Source: S3088 RUNCIMAN Correspondence with Lorna Henderson (NZ)
• Source: S3089 Midlothian: Edinburgh - Register of Apprentices, 1701-1755 Repository: #R121
• Repository: R121 Ancestry.com Address: Country: USA
• Source: S3090 Chalmers Biographical Dictionary, Url: http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/list.aspx?dbid=7077&path=Chalmers+Biographical+Dictionary Note: (Search results from this link will need an ancestry subscription) Alexander Chalmers's General Biographical Dictionary, subtitle: 'an Historical and Critical Account of the Lives and Writings of the Most Eminent Persons in Every Nation; Particularly the British and the Irish. From the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time.' Repository: #R121
• Source: S3091 17th-18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers, Url: British Library via Gale Group
• Source: S3237 Post Office Directories (SCT), Url: http://digital.nls.uk/directories/ Note: Edin. 1805-1834: Containing an alphabetical arrangement of the noblemen, private gentlemen, traders, and others, in the city and suburbs of Edinburgh and Leith with their residence". Edinburgh : Postmaster General, 1805-1836. Succeeded by: Post Office annual directory and calendar. Repository: #R161
• Repository: R161 National Library, Scotland http://digital.nls.uk/directories/
• Source: S3238 GedCom: RUNCIMANArtistsAndWoburnExAlan.ged, Compiler Address: Ayr, Scotland Abbreviation: The Artist and Woburn RUNCIMAN families Author: Alan Runciman Publication: Sep 2014
• Source: S3239 Old Parochial Record (Scotland)
• Source: S55 Scottish Birth, Marriage, Burial entries (to 1854) http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php
• Source: S3 Runciman One Name Study

• Runciman-881 was created by Lorna Henderson through the import of RuncimanArtistsAndWoburnAlanLornaCombined.ged on Dec 5, 2014.