LAING, David (2 son of Wm. Laing, bookseller). b. Edinburgh 20 April 1793; assistant to his father, and partner with him 1821; sec. of Bannatyne Club 27 Feb. 1823 to its dissolution 1861; F.S.A. Scot. 1824, treasurer, then foreign sec. many years; librarian to the Society of Writers to the Signet, Edinburgh 21 June 1837 to death, printed a general catalogue of the library vol. 1 A to L 1865–71 and vol. 2 as far as letter N 1871–8; hon. professor of antiquities to R. Scottish Acad. 1854; LLD. Dublin univ. 1864; took special interest in old Scotch ballads and history; edited 5 works for Abbotsford club, 17 for Bannatyne club, 3 for Hunterian club, 2 for Shakespeare soc., 1 for Spalding club and 3 for Wodrow soc.; also The works of John Knox 6 vols. 1846–64, and the works of sir David Lindsay 1871, William Dunbar 1834 and Robert Henryson 1865; author of Early Scottish metrical tales 1826, new ed. 1889; Biographical notices of T. Young, vicar of Stowmarket. Edinb. 1870; Etchings by sir David Wilkie, with biographical sketches 1875 and numerous other works. d. 12 James st. Portobello, Edinburgh 18 Oct. 1878.
Note.—His library in a 31 day sale disposed of by Sotheby & Co. 1879–80 for £16,137 9s. He left drawings to R. Scottish Acad., and a collection of MSS. to Edinb. univ. T. G. Stevenson’s Notices of David Laing (1878); Select remains of ancient poetry of Scotland by D. Laing, with memoir (1885), portrait.
LAING, David. b. 1800; ed. St. Peter’s coll. Camb., B.A. 1825, M.A. 1828; chaplain to Middlesex hospital, London 1840–47; V. of Trinity district, St. Pancras, London 1 June 1847 to 1857, Holy Trinity ch. consecrated 15 Oct. 1850; R. of St. Olave-by-the-Tower, London 1857 to death; founder of Governesses’ Asylum, Prince of Wales’s road, Kentish Town, opened 12 June 1849, hon. sec. to death; F.R.S. 23 Nov. 1843; author of Sermons 1847; Six sermons in a work entitled Great truths for thoughtful moments 1853; The oneness of providence, evidence that the most high ruleth 1854; The Bible, its oneness of mind and oneness of design 1854, and some school books for children. d. St. Olave’s rectory, 8 Hart st. Mark lane, London 6 Aug. 1860. bur. Highgate cemetery. F. Miller’s St. Pancras (1874) 218–26, 330.
Note.—His wife Mary Elizabeth who acted as hon. sec. of Governesses’ Asylum 1860 to decease, d. 55 Haverstock hill, London 21 April 1886 aged 82.
LAING, Francis Henry. Roman Catholic ecclesiastic; D.D.; edited The catholic freethinker’s fly-sheet 1883, 2 numbers; author of Catholic the same in meaning as sovereign 1848; The knight of the faith, by J. H. L. 1867; The blessed virgin’s root traced in the tribe of Ephraim 1871; The shortcoming of the English catholic press 1879; The catholic freethinker 1886; The two evolutions, the real and the mock 1888. d. 17 Dec. 1889. The Tablet 11 Jany. 1890 p. 62.
LAING, Henry. b. 1803; Seal engraver, Edinburgh; author of Descriptive catalogue of impressions from ancient Scottish seals. Edinb. 1850; Supplementary descriptive catalogue of seals 1866; granted civil list pension of £50, 19 June 1865. d. 1883.
LAING, John (son of Mr. Laing, factor to earl of Rosebery at Dalmeny). b. Edinburgh 1809; ed. at Univ. of Edin.; minister of parish of Livingston, Linlithgowshire 1842–3, free church minister there 1843–6; chaplain to presbyterian soldiers at Gibraltar 1846, afterwards at Malta; librarian of New college, Edin. 1850 to death; published Catalogue of the printed books and manuscripts in the library of New college, Edinburgh 1868; author with Samuel Halkett of A dictionary of the anonymous and pseudonymous literature of Great Britain 4 vols. Edinburgh 1882–8. d. 3 April 1880. The Library Chronicle, v 138, 148–50 (1888).
LAING, John George (2 son of Malcolm Laing of Upper Canada). b. Niagara, Upper Canada 26 Aug. 1839; ed. at St. John’s coll. Camb., fellow 1865–8; 2nd wrangler and 2 Smith’s prizeman 1862; B.A. 1862; assistant tutor at Trinity college; barrister L.I. 6 June 1866. d. 46 Ladbroke grove, Notting Hill, London 4 Feb. 1887.
LAING, Peter. b. 5 Jany. 1785; resided at Elgin; entertained by the citizens of Elgin on his birthday 5 Jany. 1888 when aged 103.
LAING, Philip (youngest son of James Laing of Pitteenween, Fifeshire). Founded with his elder brother John Laing the great shipbuilding firm of John and Philip Laing at North Sands on the Wear 1793, sole proprietor 1818 to death, the works acquired worldwide reputation; lived at Deptford house, co. Durham 1818 to death. d. 1854.