He was presented to Haddington by James, Earl of Hopetoun, and admitted on 16 June 1796.

After 50 years in the ministry he was invited to a public dinner which was presided over by Angus Makellar.

Lorimer was born a few years after Conrad Heyer but nevertheless was one of the earliest-born people ever photographed.

In the final painting Lorimer is depicted immediately to the viewer's right of David Brewster (who is reading a book with his hand on his glasses) and not far to the viewer's left of Thomas Chalmers in the very centre above Patrick MacFarlan who is signing the deed of demission.

Lorimer, above a pile of books, is two to the viewer's left of David Welsh who is holding a copy of the protest.