Riddell, Robert (1755 -1794)

Robert Riddell of Glenriddell and Friar's Carse, in Dumfriesshire, was the son of Walter Riddell, of Newhouse, and Anne, daughter and heir of Robert Riddell of Glenriddell, to whose estate he eventually succeeded. Captain of the 32nd of Foot, the Cornwall Regiment, in Ireland in 1780, in 1792 he joined the 12th (Prince of Wales) Regiment of Light Dragoons. His principal interest, however, was in antiquities and he was an active member of the Society of Antiquaries in London, and that in Edinburgh, and published several papers in Archaeologia. He married, 29 May 1731, Jean, daughter of Alexander Fergusson of Craigdarroch, and they had several daughters. He was a friend of Robert Burns, who gave him an autograph manuscript of his poems, known as the “Glenriddell Manuscript”, which was returned to Burns after Riddell's death and is now in the National Library of Scotland. Its binding also has the stamp in gold. Riddell's library was sold after his death by Robert Ross in 1795.