George Clerk-Maxwell

Who was George Clerk-Maxwell?

Sir George Clerk-Maxwell, 4th Baronet FRSE, of Penicuik, was a Scottish landowner who served as the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer in Exchequer, Commissioner of Customs and as a Trustee for Improving Fisheries and Manufactures in Scotland. His estates were forfeited.

George Clerk was born at Edinburgh in October 1715, the second son of Sir John Clerk, 2nd Baronet of Penicuik, and Janet, daughter of Sir John Inglis, 2nd Baronet of Cramond. He was educated at the universities of Edinburgh and Leyden. From his father he received in patrimony the lands of Drumcrieff in Annandale, and by marriage with Dorothea Clerk-Maxwell, daughter of his uncle William by Agnes Maxwell, heiress of Middlebie, Dumfriesshire, he obtained the lands of Middlebie, adopting thereupon his wife's name, Clerk-Maxwell.

He was a commissioner of the customs, king's remembrancer in the exchequer, and one of the trustees for improving fisheries and manufactures in Scotland. Both in his private and public capacity he promoted the agricultural and commercial interests of the country.