Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Carre, Walter Riddell

1381628Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 09 — Carre, Walter Riddell1887Thomas Finlayson Henderson

CARRE, WALTER RIDDELL (1807–1874), topographer, was descended from the old family of Riddell of Riddell, in the county of Roxburgh, immortalised by Scott in the ‘Lay of the Last Minstrel’ as ‘ancient Riddell's fair domains.’ He was the second son of Thomas Riddell of Carnieston, and was born at Edinburgh on 4 Aug. 1807. After completing his education at the high school of Edinburgh, he entered a mercantile house in London, where he remained till 1848, when he took up his residence in Hertfordshire. Some years afterwards he succeeded by the will of his uncle, Admiral Robert Riddell Carre, to the estate of Cavers Carre in Roxburghshire, when he assumed the additional surname and arms of Carre. From this time he devoted much of his attention to researches into family and county records, and the biography of ‘worthies’ connected with the Borders, giving the result of his studies occasionally in popular lectures, and in contributions to the newspapers and to ‘Notes and Queries.’ He also took an active interest in various Border societies. He was a justice of the peace and a commissioner of supply for the county of Roxburgh. He died in December 1874. He was the author of ‘Border Memories; or, Sketches of Prominent Men and Women of the Border,’ published posthumously in 1876, with a biographical sketch by James Tait.

[Tait's Memoir, as above.]

T. F. H.