Edinburgh's Deacon Brodie - Eric Melvin

In introducing Eric she highlighted what has been a very full and interesting career for him, ranging from Teacher, through Headteacher to teaching in Africa and then all the considerable research that he has done on what is really his hobby, The History of Edinburgh. This has led to numerous lectures, guided walks and the publishing of 3 books with a 4th on the way !

Eric Melvin then started his talk about DEACON BRODIE by saying that he was not quite the scoundrel that many people think. His opening remarks I think, took everyone by surprise when he told us that Brodie Close was not named after the Deacon but after his father Francis Brodie.

He showed us a map of how the new town progressed from East to West along George St and some old prints of the of the area around St Giles , including the old Tollbooth.

Although his talk was centred on Deacon Brodie he highlighted almost every person who was anybody in the mid/ late 18th century, Adam Smith, James Hutton, Robert Fergusson, Robert Chambers, William Creech, James Boswell to name only a few. He gave us many examples of how Edinburgh had an extraordinary night life in homes, clubs, pubs and some of the more “seedy” places of entertainment !

Although Brodie was a well respected craftsman and had inherited a considerable sum from his father he also gambled, in fact over a 2 year period he went through the equivalent of £1m. This, it is thought, led him to his life of break - ins during late 1787 and the early months of 1788. His method was simple he made an impression of house keys when he was there on legitimate business. In February 1788 he and 3 accomplices broke into the Excise House and although he escaped one of these accomplices named him. This led to a reward of £200 for any information which resulted in his arrest. For several months he avoided the authorities by going to London then Amsterdam, but it was here that he was arrested and brought back for trial.

His Trial took place on 27th August 1788, at which he was sentenced to death, being then hanged at the Tollbooth in the High Street in the October.

It was easy to see how well Eric’s talk had gone down due to the many questions which were asked after which PP Lindsay gave the Club’s vote of thanks. 

A VERY interesting and thought provoking talk which covered a lot of Edinburgh’s history during that Golden Era.