John Clerk of Pennycuik
John Clerk of Pennycuik was a Scottish merchant noted for maintaining a comprehensive archive of family papers, now held by the National Archives of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland.
Born in Montrose, he was the son of merchant William Clerk, and was baptised by Alexander Forbes, the Bishop of Caithness, at Fettercairn on 22 December 1611.
He was a person of great ability and of an enterprising commercial spirit. He settled in Paris in 1634, and, in a few years, acquired а very considerable fortune. Returning to Scotland in 1646, he purchased the lands and barony of Penicuik, in Midlothian, which have ever since continued to be the residence and title of this family.
In 1647 Clerk married Mary Gray, fourth daughter of Sir William Gray of Pittendrum, by whom he had five sons and five daughters. On his death he was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Clerk, 1st Baronet.
