John Watson Laidlay

His mother was sister to the bankers and merchants J. and R. Watson and it is likely that John Laidlay worked for the firm.

He also studied Hindustani under Dr Gilchrist in London and there was introduced to Bishop Reginald Heber.

He had a great love of ancient languages and coins, specialising in India and the Middle East.

In 1854 he moved northwards to Scotland and settled at Seacliff House, a large property near North Berwick, east of Tantallon Castle with an impressive private harbour.

The grave lies in the north-west section of the original cemetery facing west onto the westmost path, close to the access gate to Dean Gallery.

His eldest son, Andrew Laidlay, was born in Calcutta in 1845, qualified as an advocate in Britain and perished in a fire which destroyed Seacliff House in 1907.

[citation needed] Another son, John Ernest Laidlay (1860–1940), born in North Berwick, was a noted amateur golfer.