The Merchant Company has a rich history interwoven with the fabric of Edinburgh life in the last 300 years.

In its early days, the Company concerned itself with such matters as the city water supply and expressed regret that too many trading premises were being turned into 'brandy shops' or 'tippling places'. However, eventually the status and influence of Members was seen by public- spirited benefactors as an efficient and perpetual means of putting into effect their last wills and testaments and, as a result, charitable trusts were left to the Company to administer.

This, coupled with shrewd investment, resulted in the Company becoming one of the biggest land owners in Scotland. For example, one of the Master's responsibilities until recently was that of the Chairman of the Trustees of the Harbours of Peterhead and Chairman of the Managers of the Feuars of Peterhead.

It also saw the Company assuming many responsibilities, relating mainly to the young, the poor and the elderly. In 1694, Mary Erskine, possibly the widow of a Company Member, gave over 10,000 mercs for the “maintenance of burgess female children” which established the Mary Erskine School. Further legacies resulted in the opening of George Watson’s College in 1741, Daniel Stewart’s College in 1855 and James Gillespie’s High School (the latter was handed over to the management of the Edinburgh School Board in 1908).

As time passed, the focus of the Company moved completely to education and charitable works.