Born in 1842 he was the only son of William Macfarlane, M.D., of Edinburgh and Margaret Verner, daughter of George Grieve, of Eastfield, Berwickshire
Matriculated from Balliol College, Oxford, 26 Jan. 1863, as William Alexander Comyn Macfarlane; Scholar of St John's College, Oxford, 1864-8
B.A. (Oxford) 1866
M.A. (Oxford) 1869
M.A. 1896, incorp. from Oxford
Admitted at Clare on 1 May 1896
Ordained deacon (Oxford) 1867; priest, 1868
Curate of St Giles, Oxford, 1871-2
Vicar of Criftins-by-Ellesmere, Salop, 1872-8
Rector of Elmswell, Suffolk, 1878-92
Disclaimed his Orders, 1892
Succeeded to Edenhall House, near Kelso, as heir to his uncle, Alexander Grieve
Took the name, and arms, of Macfarlane-Grieve by Royal licence, 12 June 1876
Settled at Impington Park, near Cambridge, 1894
Died 8 April 1917, aged 75