Number 26 - Information on residents

In December 1822, the Society held its first General Show, the first open to competition from any part of Scotland, in the back garden of Queensberry House, then a barracks, in the Canongate. Between sixty and seventy five cattle were exhibited and 1,052 visitors and members attended the show, paying one shilling entry fee. These, and other initiatives, led to the Society's title changing in 1834 to The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, later adding Royal to the title. The change was appropriate and significant, as the Society had become less of a Highland Society, and more of an Agricultural Society. The Society went on to hold shows annually in different parts of Scotland (medal awarded in 1827) but, in 1849, the directors decided that, in future, shows would be held triennially. They pointed out that, contrary to general opinion, the shows, instead of being a source of revenue, were actually losing the society money as they cost £5,000 to stage. The decision caused huge dissatisfaction among the agricultural community, and over eighty famers wrote in protest. The directors changed the timing to bi-annual shows but by the late 1850s the pressure forced the Society to return to annual shows. A newspaper account of the 1877 show in Edinburgh indicates that the problem of poor conditions underfoot is not something new. ‘Heavy though intermittent rainfalls previously had rendered the ground exceedingly disagreeable to walk upon, and in some places it was little better that a quagmire.’In 1859, at the traditional after show dinner, the Lord Justice Clerk said: ‘ In my experience there has been a remarkable decay of the litigious spirit amongst the agriculturists of Scotland, and an equally remarkable falling off in the number of actions raised by them against their landlords, or against each other in the Court of Session. My learned brother and predecessor, Pleydell, held that the farmers of Scotland took to litigation only after the union of the two kingdoms had deprived them of their more natural amusement of slaughtering their sovereigns and making war. Now, however, another change had come over the farmers, and what could be the reason of it. I am perfectly convinced that the perfervidum ingenium Scotorum (the very ardent temper of the Scots) must get vent somehow, else it would burst its bonds; and I have little doubt the reason it did not find its vent in litigation was that it found sufficient excitement and relief in the honourable and kindly emulation of the show-yard.’

The Orrs moved to Great King Street. However, the 1855 valuation record shows that the Orrs still owned the house at that date.

1880s Lodger – Christopher Douglas, and his son, Archibald

Christopher Douglas was one of the original group that set up the Society of Accountants in 1854. At that time he published a pamphlet that argued for the Scottish law on bankruptcy to be retained, rather than amalgamated with English law. He wrote in relation to this law that: ‘no two countries scarcely can bear less resemblance to each other.’

The group of about fifteen accountants who met in 1854 decided to form the Society of Accountants in Edinburgh. (Three other residents of Albany Street, James Dickson - Number 52, John Ogilvy – Number 42, and Thomas Scott - Number 41 were also founding members). This was the first ever professional grouping of accountants and became the model for the chartered profession throughout the world.

Fifty years later there was an event to mark the Society’s creation at which the Lord Advocate described the significant change: ‘There are probably few professions which can show a greater contrast between the present and the past….in the beginning of the 18th century accounting was practised by solicitors and other persons of integrity and position. In the last century as the complexity of business and trade increased, as the intricacy of modern finance grew, and especially owing to the great development of joint-stock companies, the demands made upon the skills of the professional accountants increased so their position was much advanced. Before the middle of the 19th century no standard of proficiency was required for an accountant. There was no settled form of training and anyone who pleased to call themselves an accountant could set up in business. It was in these circumstances, in this city of Edinburgh, that the accountants resolved to apply for a Charter in 1854. Since then the designation of Chartered Accountant has become well recognised and honoured all over the country, and in the colonies and wherever civilisation is known. The result is that all of us who are favoured to meet accountants – and happily or unhappily we lawyers have that fortune often – recognise them always to be men of capacity and skill, men of sterling integrity, men fitted to be what they are – honoured members of a learned profession.’

Christopher had earlier married Frances Wood, and they had one son. They had lived in London for a time and Frances appears to have died prior to 1880. Archibald was studying medicine while lodging here with his father, who died in the house in 1882.