William Law (Lord Provost)

He was born in Edinburgh the oldest son of William Law, a merchant.

In 1830 he (or his father) had a store at 31 Hanover Street, living nearby at 37 George Street.^[1]

From 1835 he ran a tea and coffee shop at 31 St Andrew Square. By 1840 his younger brother George joined and they created W & G Law.^{[citation needed]} In 1850 William was living at 24 Stafford Street.^[2]

He ran the shop with his younger brother George, under the name of W & G Law at 31 St Andrew Square in Edinburgh and later expanded^{[citation needed]} to 544 Oxford Street in London.^[3]

In 1869 he succeeded William Chambers as Lord Provost. He was succeeded in turn by James Cowan in 1872.^{[citation needed]}

The principal changes in the city during his control were: erection of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on a new site on Lauriston Place; installation of the first city tramway; erection of the statue of Greyfriars Bobby; and siting of the Ross Fountain in Princes Street Gardens.^{[citation needed]}

In later life he lived at 7 Chester Street in Edinburgh's West End.^[4]

He died in Edinburgh on 14 January 1878 and was buried in Dean Cemetery. The grave lies on the east section of the main south path, backing onto the hidden southern terrace.^{[citation needed]}