Alexander Runciman (Scottish artist)1

(15 Aug 1736 - 21 Oct 1785)
Father*James Runciman (father of the artists)2,3,4 (circa Dec 1688 - Mar 1751)
Mother*Mary Smith5,2 (circa 1706 - circa Sep 1777)

BDMs

     Alexander Runciman was born on 15 Aug 1736 Edinburgh, MLN, SCT,6,5 and baptized there on 22 Aug 1736 entry (indexed in margin as Runciman) reads: James Runciaman Wright in Edinr And Marg: (ie Margaret, it's definitely a g, not a y, with the : to signify missing letters!) Smith his Spouse had a Son born 15 August bap: 22 Namd Alexr Wit: John Jack Baillie of Canongate And Geo: Willson Chyrurgeon there.5
Alexander Runciman (Scottish artist) and Female UnknownSurname were definitely not married but had a son. Alan has unearthed a letter in the NLS: written by David Laing to ‘AC’ 27 May 1831. He was writing about Alexander’s agent (Ross). “This Mr Ross was at least as remarkable for profligacy as for talent, and, among other things, passed on one of his cast-off mistresses to the Painter. Runciman lived with her openly, and had a child by her, and is said to have lost many of his early patrons on this account".7
     Alexander Runciman died on 21 Oct 1785 Edinburgh, MLN, at age 49; 4th in Wikipedia, 21st in Chalmers
A brief note appeared in both the London Chronicle, and in the Morning Herald and Daily Advertiser, both London papers, on Nov 24th and 25th respectively, referring to the "monument of his genius and taste". The 21st does seem rather closer to his burial on the 24th Oct.6,8,9,10 He was buried on 24 Oct 1785 in the Canongate Cem., Edinburgh, MLN, SCT, Entry reads: "Alexander Opp. D Hunter's B. Pt aged 52 years, Decay". (see FindAGrave).11,10
Although the James born in 1688 to James Runciaman, wright in Bristo would appear to be on the verge of being to old to be the James, wright and architect, known to be the father of artist siblings Alexander and John, it is believed that his wife, Margaret, or Mary, was about 12 years younger than he.
Although there isn't a full paper trail between the siblings shown here there is sufficient evidence to conclude that they are one and the same family.
Alexander's baptism shows his father as James Wright in Edinburgh in his baptism, mother Marg: (sic, ie Margaret). Witnesses: "John Jack Baillie of Canongate And Geo: Willson Chyrurgeon there"
He is apprenticed to Robert NORRIE painter, as son of James wright in Edinburgh.
Eleanora's baptism shows her parents as James RUNCIAMAN, architect, and Mary (sic) SMITH, with witnesses: "John Jack Sclater in Canongate and James Norie Painter in Edinr"
John's baptism unhelpfully doesn't name his mother, but does give his father's occupation as architect, and the witnesses were "John Jack Slater and late Baillie in Can: and Geo Willson Surgeon and present Baillie there"
Between Eleanora and John's baptisms there is a Jean buried, age unknown, but daughter of James wright in Edinburgh, so architect and wright would appear not to be mutually exclusive occupations.
With the lead that Alexander's mother "Marg:" might actually be Mary, Alan found their marriage in Ayr, thank you Alan.
He also found a couple of snippets that show that Alexander did actually have a son - John, a silversmith in London - but was he a RUNCIMAN and what happened to him? Love to hear from anyone with information on this.12,13,14,4
His apprenticieship is indexed as: Runciman, Alexr., s. to James R., freeman wright in Portsburgh, p. to Robert Norrie & Coy., painters 04 Apr 1750.15

Summary

     Searches have as yet not identified the fate of his natural son John, silversmith in London before 1802. Any takers?16,17

Links

     For the information on Alexander Runciman in Chalmers Biographical Dictionary (ancestry account may be needed) click here.18
     For the Wikipedia information on Alexander Runciman click here.19

Family

Female UnknownSurname (say 1750 - aft. 1785)
Child
Last Edited25 Jul 2017

Citations

  1. [S16] Lorna Henderson, "RUNCIMAN One Name Study", Added Feb 2010.
  2. [S3088] Gail Nicholls-Runciman, "RUNCIMAN Correspondence," e-mail to Lorna Henderson, Family of James & Margaret (SMITH) RUNCIMAN, rcvd Feb 2010.
  3. [S3089] Edinburgh - Register of Apprentices, 1701-1755: Apprenticeship 4 Apr 1750 Alexr RUNCIMAN, s. to James R., freeman wright in Portsburgh, p. to Robert Norrie & Coy, painters, Book 1837, index entry extracted Feb 2010.
  4. [S55] Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Birth 15 Aug Bap. 22 Aug 1736 Alexander s/o James RUNCIAMAN (wright in Edinr) & Marg: SMITH, Canongate Par, MLN 685/003 0080 0244, copy d/loaded Feb 2010.
  5. [S55] Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Birth 15 Aug Bap. 22 Aug 1736 Alexander s/o James RUNCIAMAN (wright in Edinr) & Margaret SMITH, Canongate Par, MLN 685/003 0080 0244, copy d/loaded Feb 2010.
  6. [S2449] Wikipedia online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page, Alexander RUNCIMAN (15 August 1736 – 4 October 1785), online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Runciman, extracted Feb 2010.
  7. [S2729] MyHeritage Family Trees online at http://www.myheritage.com/, Existance of John, son of Alexander RUNCIMAN, painter, and ex mistress of his agent ROSS, http://www.myheritage.com/site-203658121/…, extracted May 2013.
  8. [S3090] Chalmers Biographical Dictionary online at http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/list.aspx, Alexander RUNCIMAN (1736, Edinburgh - 21 Oct 1785), extracted Feb 2010.
  9. [S3091] 17th-18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers online at British Library via Gale Group, Obituary [Alexander] RUNCIMAN, "the painter, who lately died at Edinburgh", from London Chronicle (London, England), Thursday, November 24, 1785; Issue 4528, extracted Feb 2010.
  10. [S55] Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Bur. 24 Oct 1785 Alexander RUNCIMAN, aged 52, Canongate, MLN 685/03 0230 0273, copy d/loaded Feb 2014.
  11. [S2811] Find A Grave online at http://findagrave.com, Alexander RUNCIMAN 1736-1785, Canongate Cemetery, entry Originally Created by: Connie Nisinger; Record added: Jun 28, 2005; Find A Grave Memorial# 11258126, extracted Dec 2010.
  12. [S55] Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Birth 13th Bap. 18th Jul 1742 Eleanora d/o James RUNCIAMAN (architect in Canongate) & Mary (sic) SMITH, Canongate Par, MLN 685/030 0080 0307, copy d/loaded May 2013.
  13. [S16] Lorna Henderson, "RUNCIMAN One Name Study", Feb 2010, updated May 2013.
  14. [S55] Scottish BMDB entries (to 1854), http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/index.php, Birth 28 Aug Bap. 4 Sep 1744 John s/o James RUNCIAMAN (architect in Edinr) , Canongate Par, MLN 685/030 0080 0333, copy d/loaded May 2013.
  15. [S3089] Edinburgh - Register of Apprentices, 1701-1755: Apprenticeship 4 Apr 1750 Alexr RUNCIMAN, s. to James R., freeman wright in Portsburgh, p. to Robert Norrie & Coy, painters, Book 1837.index entry extracted Feb 2010.
  16. [S108] GRO Scotland, "OPR Midlothian Scotlands People (RUNCIMAN & variants) Births 1538-1854", Midlothian births to a father Alexander R*N*M*N*, index searched Feb 2010.
  17. [S2868] Google Books online at books.google.com, John natural son of Alexander RUNCIMAN artist, from '‘Biographical Sketch of Alexander Runciman' from The Scots Magazine, Sunday 1 Aug 1802, pg 622, extracted (thanks to Alan R) May 2013.
  18. [S3090] Chalmers Biographical Dictionary online at http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/list.aspx, Alexander RUNCIMAN (1736, Edinburgh - 21 Oct 1785), extracted Feb 2010.
  19. [S2449] Wikipedia online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page, Alexander RUNCIMAN (15 August 1736 - 4 October 1785), online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Runciman, extracted Feb 2010.
  20. [S2868] Google Books online at books.google.com, 1785 Son & nephew of Alexander RUNCIMAN, artist, from "Body Building: reforming masculinities in British art 1750-1810" by Martin Myrone, ISBN 0-300-11005-7, Pg 346 Note 49, extracted (thanks to Alan R) May 2013.
 
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