Duncan McLaren (12 January 1800 – 26 April 1886) was a Scottish Liberal Party politician and political writer.

He became treasurer in 1837 and found that the royal burgh's finances were in ruin and that the Scottish capital was bankrupt.

In 1835, he pioneered free education for all classes and started a building programme of thirteen schools.

[3] McLaren campaigned against the decision of the trustees of William Fettes to use his bequest to found a 'public school' on the English model, believing that to be a misuse of funds intended for the education of orphans and the needy.

He sought unsuccessfully to have the Fettes project remodelled to create free schools on similar lines to those supported by the Heriot Trust.

[4] In 1865 he was elected one of Edinburgh's two Members of Parliament, a position he held until he retired 16 years later.

His huge monument lies against the east wall of the first south extension to the graveyard, immediately below Edinburgh Castle.