Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/280

 depute during Lord Beaconsfield's administration, and in 1886 was appointed sheriff of Stirling, Dumbarton, and Clackmannanshire.

Muirhead was an accomplished jurist, and besides discharging his professorial duties with eminent ability, made a European reputation by his masterly works on Roman law. In 1885 he succeeded Lord McLaren as sheriff in chancery, and the same year received from the university of Glasgow the honorary degree of LL.D. He died at his house in Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, on 8 Nov. 1889. Muirhead married, on 14 April 1857, Jemima Lock, youngest daughter of George Eastlake of Plymouth.

Muirhead edited in 1880 'The Institutes of Gaius and Rules of Ulpian. The former from Studemund's Apograph of the Verona Codex. With translation and notes critical and explanatory, and copious alphabetical digest,' Edinburgh, 8vo. His 'Historical Introduction to the Private Law of Rome,' Edinburgh, 1886, 8vo, of which an abridgment had appeared, under the title 'Roman Law,' in the ninth edition of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' is a work of authority, and has been translated into French and Italian. Muirhead's interesting and valuable library of law books was, after his death, purchased by subscription and presented to the Owens College, Manchester. A catalogue of it has been published by the college.  MULCASTER, FREDERICK WILLIAM (1772–1846), lieutenant-general, colonel-commandant royal engineers, and inspector-general of fortifications, eldest son of Major-general G. F. Mulcaster, of the royal engineers, was born at St. Augustine, East Florida, on 25 June 1772. After passing through the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, he received a commission as second lieutenant in the royal artillery on 2 June 1792, and in June 1793 was transferred to the royal engineers. He was promoted first lieutenant in November 1793. He was sent to Portsmouth, and early in 1795 was appointed assistant quartermaster-general in the south-western district. He laid out the encampments at Weymouth, which were frequently visited by George III and the royal family. He sailed for Portugal on 1 Jan. 1797, and after making a military survey of the seat of war, he served successively as military secretary to General Hon. Sir C. Stuart and Lieutenant-General Fraser. On 11 Sept. 1798 he was promoted captain-lieutenant, and went to Minorca, where he was commanding engineer at the siege of Cindadella in that island at the end of the year. He was actively employed in the operations in the Mediterranean until 1801, and was military secretary successively to Sir C. Stuart, General Fox, and Lord Roslyn. He acted as colonial secretary of Minorca after its capture, and as judge of the vice-admiralty court in the Mediterranean. He held the latter appointment for nearly two years, and though some eight hundred prize causes came before him there were but five appeals to England, and in all these his decisions were confirmed.

In June 1801 he was appointed undersecretary to Lord Chatham, master-general of the ordnance. On 21 Sept. 1802 he was promoted captain, and in December 1803 he was appointed commanding royal engineer and inspector of the royal gunpowder factories at Faversham and Waltham Abbey. On 25 July 1810 he became brevet major, and on 1 May 1811 regimental lieutenant-colonel. In January 1812 he went to the Mauritius as commanding royal engineer of that island and of Bourbon and dependencies. He remained there until 1817, and acted as surveyor-general of the colonies and temporarily as colonial secretary, and took charge of Bourbon at a time of peculiar difficulty and delicacy, the lieutenant-governor having been superseded. He received the thanks of the governor for restoring peace in Bourbon by his judicious conduct. He was promoted colonel on 7 Feb. 1817. He returned to England in July the same year, and was placed on half-pay on reduction of the corps in August. He was made a K.C.H. for his services, and received the reward for distinguished service. He returned to full pay on 15 April 1824, and was promoted major-general on 27 May 1825. He served in various capacities on the staff at home, and on 16 July 1834 was appointed inspector-general of fortifications. He was promoted lieutenant-general 28 June 1838. He resigned the office of inspector-general of fortifications in July 1845, and died at Charlton near Canterbury on 28 Jan. 1846. Mulcaster married first, on 2 Sept. 1804, Mary Lucy, daughter of John Montrésor of Belmont, Kent, and of Portland Place, and granddaughter of James Gabriel Montrésor [q. v.], and secondly, on 10 Sept. 1822, Esther Harris of Petham, near Canterbury, and had by her one son, Frederick Montrésor. 