image copyright Rachel Windsor

The stone in St Cuthbert's Burial Ground is dedicated to Duncan McClaren. Once a draper. McLaren became City Treasurer in 1837, after holding other posts in the City Council and establishing free education in 1835. In 1851 he became Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and in 1846 he was elected Member of Parliament. He died in 1880, and is buried here along with his mother, his three wives, his niece and his sister. One of his wives was Priscilla Bright, sister of John Bright of the Anti-Corn Law League.