George Turnbull of Abbey St Bathans WS FRSE (27 January 1793 – 27 February 1855) was a 19th-century Scottish lawyer, landowner and agricultural improver.
Life Turnbull was born in 1793 at Abbey St Bathans in the Scottish Borders. His father, originally referred to as John Turnbull of Duns, had purchased Abbey St Bathans House from John Hume in 1786. Around 1790 he married Margaret Christie.
Around 1806, he was apprenticed to John Renton WS, an Edinburgh lawyer working from 4 North St James Street.edinburgh Post Office Directory 1806 In 1807 his father died and he inherited Abbey St Bathans, making major alterations to the house.
In 1816 Turnbull qualified as a Writer to the Signet and set up his own legal office in Edinburgh at 16 Charlotte Street.Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1817 By the 1830s he had an office at 16 Thistle Street in the New Town but was living separately at a fine townhouse at 49 George Square in the South Side.Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1833 In 1841 his son qualified as a Writer to the Signet and joined him in the firm at Thistle Street creating "W & J Turnbull WS".Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1846
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1846. His proposer was John Cockburn.
He retained both his George Square house and Abbey St Bathans until death.edinburgh Post Office Directory 1855
He died at George SquareScotsman newspaper 1 March 1855 on 27 February 1855. His last will and testament are held at the National Archive in Kew.
His house in Edinburgh was demolished in the 1960s to allow expansion of the University of Edinburgh.
Family
In August 1817, he was married to Grace Brunton, youngest daughter of James Brunton of Lugton. Their children (at least five) included John Turnbull (1820-1891).Grave of George Turnbull, Abbey St Bathans
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