Robert Cranston (Scottish politician)

Brigadier-General Sir Robert Cranston KCVO CB CBE VD DL (1843 – 22 October 1923) was a Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1903 to 1906. He had an illustrious military career largely affiliated to volunteer battalions.

In 1914 he set up the first Edinburgh Pals battalion; the 15th battalion Royal Scots (also known as the Manchester-Scottish owing to its high ratio of members from the Manchester area). This was quickly followed by two further volunteer battalions; the 16th and 17th. Sir Robert was honorary commander in chief of all three battalions.

Robert was born in Edinburgh, the son of Bailie Robert Cranston (1815-1892), a pioneer of total abstinence in the early 19th century.

Educated at the Royal High School on Regent Road, then obtained an LLD at the University of Philadelphia. He then trained in business in London and Paris.

He was awarded the freedom of the city of Edinburgh on 15 October 1923, shortly before his death.

He died at home at 19 Merchiston Avenue, Edinburgh following a brief illness and was buried with full military honours in the Grange Cemetery following a service in St. Giles Cathedral. The grave lies on the main eastern path but only the stone of his parents is clear as his stone currently (2016) lies fallen on its back, behind the main monument.

Originally Cranston worked in the drapery department of Kennington & Jenner (a forerunner of Jenners department store. Thereafter he set up a joint private business, Cranston & Elliot on North Bridge, but this had to be relocated due to acquisition by the North British Railway Company to build the North British Hotel (now the Balmoral). His company then moved to Princes Street. He also was concurrently managing director of Cranston’s Hotels Ltd.

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