Personal data
George Goldie

Son of Alexander Goldie. He possibly married (1779) to Sophia M'Douall.1 Goldie was the Secretary (then Manager) of the British Linen Bank (1759-1785) and Keeper of the Linen Hall.2 There appears to have been some family connection between Goldie and the Heron family at Kirroughtrie,3 and Boswell, in his journal, tells us, that he was educated with Patrick Heron.

Boswell met Goldie at Patrick Heron's on September 18, 1762. Boswell thought him "a neat young man, very cheerful and very friendly". He is probably the same Mr Goldie who came to William Maxwell's Springkell during Boswell's stay there on October 8 of that same year. Boswell had supper at Goldie's place in Edinburgh on October 27.

  • 1A Goldie, Mr. George, merchant was married in Edinburgh on July 10, 1779, to Mrs. Sophia M'Douall, widow of deceased Capt. Osborne according to the Register of Marriages of the City of Edinburgh. 1751-1800.
  • 21782 was the last year he appeared as a merchant at British Linen Hall (the Edinburgh HQ of the British Linen Company) in Williamson's Directory for the City of Edinburgh, Canongate, Leith, and Suburbs
  • 3Lee, T. A. (2006) Seekers of Truth. JAI press. p. 121

Unless otherwise noted, the source for a dated quotation of Boswell's is generally the corresponding volume of the Yale Trade Editions of Boswell's journals.