Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Macgeorge, Andrew
MACGEORGE, ANDREW (1810–1891), antiquarian writer and historian, son of Andrew Macgeorge, lawyer, was born 13 May 1810, in Glasgow, where he received his school and university education. He was admitted into the Faculty of Procurators in 1836, becoming about the same time a member of his father's firm. After his father's death he was head of the firm till 1889, when he retired. Recognised as a sound ecclesiastical lawyer, Macgeorge was connected with some famous cases in the courts of the church of Scotland, and was in controversy an uncompromising churchman. He wrote, under the pseudonym of Veritas,' an elaborate series of articles on the principles of the free church, which were collected later for private circulation. He was skilled in heraldry, and as an antiquary he contributed important papers to the Archaeological Society of Glasgow. His love of art is illustrated by his biography of W. L. Leitch [q. v.], and by many water-colour paintings and clever caricatures. For 'Rab and his Friends,' by Dr. John Brown (1810-1882) [q. v.], he drew an illustration of the dog-fight, and Thackeray highly commended some of his caricatures when shown them by Dr. Brown. He took an active interest in the welfare of public institutions in Glasgow, notably the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, which was founded by his exertions, and of which he was long the secretary. His alma mater conferred on him the degree of LL.D. four months before his death, which took place at Row, Dumbartonshire, 4 Sept. 1891. In 1841 he married Miss Pollock of Whitehall, near Glasgow, who survived him with an only daughter, the wife of the Rev. Dr. Alison of Edinburgh.
Macgeorge's works are: 1. 'Insignia of Glasgow,' 1866. 2. 'Principles of the Free Church,' 1873. 3. 'Free Church Claims: their Real Character and Tendency,' 1877. 4. 'Old Glasgow: the Place and the People,' 1880, illust. 8vo and 4to, 1888; an able and trustworthy treatise. 5. 'Flags, their History and Use,' illust. 4to, 1881, a work of much research and interest. 6. 'William Leighton Leitch, Landscape Painter,' 1884. 7. 'The Church in its relation to the Law and the State,' a dissertation contributed to Professor Story's 'Church of Scotland, Past and Present, and also issued separately, 1891. For the Maitland Society he edited 'Miscellaneous Papers illustrative of the Reigns of Mary and James VI,' 1834, 4to.
[Glasgow Herald, 6 Sept. 1891; Helensburgh and Gareloch Times, 7 Sept. 1891; personal knowledge.]