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5d - Effigy of Sir Robert Davidson, Provost of Aberdeen who was slain in the Battle of Harlaw, 1411
1819
ARTIST - J. Logan, of Aberdeen
COLLECTION - National Library of Scotland

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Hutton Drawings > [Volume 1] > Aberdeenshire > (19) 5d - Effigy of Sir Robert Davidson, Provost of Aberdeen who was slain in the Battle of Harlaw, 1411
(19) 5d - Effigy of Sir Robert Davidson, Provost of Aberdeen who was slain in the Battle of Harlaw, 1411
Description This drawing is signed, ‘J. Logan, Abdn. 1819’. It does not tell us the effigy's precise location in Aberdeen. The Battle of Harlaw, fought between the followers of Donald, Lord of the Isles, and Crown troops led by the Earl of Mar, took place at Harlaw, twenty miles north-west of Aberdeen, on the 24th of July 1411. Donald's soldiers ultimately retreated, but the Crown forces lost around five hundred men, one of whom was Sir Robert Davidson.

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St Nicholas Church, Aberdeen
Some of these rich merchants and magistrates from medieval Aberdeen ordered stone effigies of themselves to be produced to adorn their graves. In total St Nicholas contains 7 effigies, four males and three females; the largest group of medieval effigies in Scotland. They have been dated to between 1430 and 1465. The figure to the right is often said to be that of Provost Robert Davidson. Davidson is a famous provost in Aberdeen's history largely because he is the only one known to have died in a battle. He died at the battle of 'Reid' (or Red) Harlaw in 1411 defending Aberdeen against the 'wild and savage Highlanders'. However if this effigy dates to between 1430 and 1465 then it is probably not Provost Davidson. This is unfortunate as Davidson is a fascinating character. He was also a pirate: he was the subject of a number of court cases brought against him for piracy, including one claiming he had stolen goods belonging to one Richard (Dick) Whittington, then Lord Mayor of London

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Knight effigy in St Nicholas Kirk, Aberdeen – often attributed to be Robert Davidson but more likely to be the effigy of Alexander Chalmers, a close relative, probably the father, of the man elected as alderman in 1484. For more information see M. Cochrane Scott, ‘Dress in Scotland, 1406-1460’ (Unpublished PhD, University of London (Courtauld), 1987): 105.

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CHALMERS, Alexander of Murthill, Provost of Aberdeen 1
Born: About 1395 - Died: 8 October 1463