George Seton

George Seton

For other people named George Seton, see George Seton (disambiguation).

George Seton (25 June 1822 – 14 November 1908) was a Scottish philanthropist and genealogist.

Early life

Seton was born in Perth, Scotland; his father was a merchant in the East India Company. Seton was educated at Edinburgh High School, the University of Edinburgh, and Exeter College, Oxford, from which he graduated in 1845.

Public service

Although called to the Scottish bar in 1846, Seton never practiced as a lawyer. Instead, he filled various public offices, as secretary to the Registrar-general for Scotland (from 1854) and Superintendent of the civil service examinations in Scotland (from 1862).

Seton was one of the founders of the St Andrews Boat Club, the first vice-chairman of the Society for Improving the Condition of the Poor, a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. However, his real love was genealogy, and in 1863 he published The Law and Practice of Heraldry in Scotland. He died in Edinburgh, aged 86.

Tall soldiers

Over 6 feet 5 inches (1 meter 95) in height, Seton served in the Royal Company of Archers and in 1859 raised his own company of volunteer grenadier artillerymen, all of whom were over 6 feet tall.

Works

The Law and Practice of Heraldry in Scotland (1863)
History of the family of Seton (2 vols., 1896)

References

T. F. Henderson, "Seton, George (1822–1908), genealogist and historian," Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

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