Horatio McCulloch (1805-1867)

Landscape painter

Horatio McCulloch was born in Glasgow. He was principally a landscape artist and was a Royal Scottish Academician. His paintings of Cadzow forest, near Hamilton were highly acclaimed, but his most popular works were those of Highland scenes.

1841 to 1861 Censuses

In 1841, Horatio McCulloch was staying at a house in Castle Street, Rothesay, Isle of Bute. His age has been rounded down to 30 and his profession is given as landscape painter. The 1841 Census doesn’t include information about the head of household and how other members are related to them.

1841 Census record for Horatio McCulloch (86 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1841/558/4, page 7

In 1851, Horatio McCulloch, 44, landscape painter and member of the Royal Scottish Academy was enumerated at 54 Inverleith Road in Edinburgh. The census record for the parish of St Cuthbert’s shows that his wife, Marcella, 33, was born in Sleat, Isle of Skye and his mother-in-law was born on Uist.

1851 Census record for Horatio McCulloch (33 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1851/685-2/215, page 4

In 1861, Horatio McCulloch , 54, landscape painter was enumerated at 7 Danube Street in Edinburgh - his name is given as Horatio MacCulloch. The census record for the parish of St George shows that the occupants of the house were his wife, Mary, a visitor from Uist, two friends from Glasgow and three servants.

1861 Census record for Horatio McCulloch (30 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1861/685-1/102, page 13

Death in 1867

Horatio McCulloch died on 24 June 1867 at St Colme, Trinity, Leith. The entry in the statutory register of deaths gives his age at death as 61 years and his parents' as Alexander McCulloch, cotton merchant and Margaret Watson.

Death entry for Horatio McCulloch in the statutory register for Leith North (22 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1867/692-1/155 

Testament of Horatio MacCulloch

National Records of Scotland, SC70/4/113 pp 374-387

His will and inventory give an insight into the artistic props that were to be found in the studios of artists at this time: 'busts, casts, models, antique furniture, antique silver plate, armour, jewels'.

View transcript (79 KB PDF)

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