Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie

ROBERT DINWIDDIE OF AIRDRIE

Mercant in Glasgow: Governor of Virginia, 1751-58

Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie is the fifth child and second son of Robert Dinwiddie, merchant, burgess of Glasgow, and his wife, Elizabeth Cumming, who was the daughter of Matthew Cumming, senior, merchant in Glasgow. He was born before 2 October 1692, the date upon which his baptism was registered at High Church parish in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His baptismal record reads as follows: "Robert, lawful son of Robert Dinwoodie and Elizabeth Cumming. Wits. Mathew Cumming, elder, and Lawrence Dinwoodie". Matthew Cumming, elder, seems likely to be Robert's maternal grandfather and Laurence Dinwiddie seems likelt to be his father's younger brother. [Registrar General for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, Glasgow Baptisms]

Early Life

Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie's father was a prosperous merchant in Glasgow, Scotland, and his mother also came from a commercial family. He was educated at the University of Glasgow and entered his father's countinghouse. He later carried on a successful career as a merchant. Tripod.The British Newspaper Archive

Cousin of Alexander Dinwiddie

According to Alexander Brown, Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 1751-58, is the first cousin of Alexander Dinwiddie. Alexander Brown, D.C.L., The Cabells and their Kin, A Memorial Volume of History, Biography, and Genealogy (Houghton, Mifflin and Company, Boston and New York, MDCCCXCV), pp. 435-36

He is appointed executor by his bother John, 1725

Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie and his younger brother Lawrence, both identified as merchants in Glasgow, together with John Baird, their brother-in-law, were nominated and appointed as executors and universal intromitters by their brother John, when he made his last will and testament at Glasgow on 24 February 1725 [National Archives of Scotland, H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, Commissariat Records of Glasgow and Ayr, Register of Testaments, reference CC9/7/52 testament numbered 35]

Governor of Virginia, 1751-58

Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie was Governor of Virginia, 1751-58. [Lothrop Withington, Virginia Gleanings in England (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.), pp. 303-04]

The Laird of Airdrie

Robert Dinwiddie, late Governor of Virginia, purchased the lands of Airdrie in Lanarkshire, Scotland. He had Signature of the lands of Airdrie on 23 February 1761 [National Archives of Scotland, H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, reference SIG1/47/43] In Scottish land records he would, thereafter, be known as Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie [Ibidem, Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Lanark, reference RS42/17/148-155]

Charitable Gifts

Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie, late Governor of Virginia, left fifty pounds Sterling to the poor of the Merchants House of Glasgow View of the Merchants House of Glasgow Containing Historical Notices of the Origin, Constitution, and Property, and of the Charitable Institutions which it Administers, Presented to the House by Archibald Orr Ewing, Esquire of Ballikinrain, Lord Dean of Guild, 1866 (Printed by Bell & Bain, Glasgow, MDCCCLXVI), page 588

His Last Will and Testament

Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie made his last will and testament on 2 May 1769 [Lothrop Withington, Virginia Gleanings in England (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.), pp. 303-04]

Death

Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie died at Clifton in Bristol, England, on 27 July 1770 [Lothrop Withington, Virginia Gleanings in England (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.), pp. 303-04]

Marriage

Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie married Rebecca Afflick (Otherwise Rebecca Auchenleck).

Children

Robert Dinwiddie of Airdrie, and his wife, Rebecca Afflick (Otherwise Rebecca Auchenleck), had two daughters whose names are known:

1. Rebecca Dinwiddie
2. Elizabeth Dinwiddie

Biographical Accounts

1. Wikipedia: Robert Dinwiddie http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Dinwiddie
2. [https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Dinwiddie_Robert_1692-1770]
3. Tripod.The British Newspaper Archive: Robert Dinwiddie
4. Robert Dinwiddie

Genealogy

Some Prominent Virginia Families: p. 601