Andrew Macbeth Anderson
Encyclopedia
Andrew Macbeth Anderson was a Scottish barrister
, judge
and Liberal Party
politician. At the time of his death he was the senior Scottish judge and held the judicial title of the Honourable Lord Anderson.
in 1862, the eldest son of Charles Enverdale Anderson, Provost
of Coupar Angus. He was educated at the High School of Dundee
and Edinburgh University where he graduated with MA
and LL.B degrees. He received a distinction in law and was awarded the Forensic Prize as the most distinguished law graduate of his year. In 1901, he married Kate Mackay from Midlothian
. They had two sons and two daughters.
particularly in jury cases. He was made an Advocate Depute in 1906 and took silk in 1908. From 1911-1913 he held the post of Solicitor General for Scotland
. In 1913, he was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice
with the judicial title of Lord Anderson.
in December 1905 in order to contest the 1906 general election
. He faced the sitting Unionist
MP, Thomas Cochrane. At the previous general election in 1900
, there had been a straight fight between Unionist and Liberal candidates but in 1906 Labour
also stood a candidate, James Brown. This had the effect of splitting the anti-Unionist vote and Cochrane held his seat with a majority of 1,016 votes over Anderson.
At the general election held in December 1910, Anderson retained his seat, this time in a straight with a new Unionist candidate, Captain Duncan Campbell
, and, against the general trend in Scotland, slightly increased his majority to 354 votes.
, a law officer of the Crown
. In accordance with the constitutional arrangements of the day, he was obliged to resign as an MP and fight a by-election
. The contest, which took place on 20 December 1911, was dominated by the government’s legislation on National Insurance
and the uncertainties this legislation would produce for individual electors, particularly those of small manufacturers and shopkeepers. Although there was no Labour candidate, Anderson was thought to have lost some support among working-class voters because of his opposition to Labour candidates in other recent elections. Anderson’s Unionist opponent was again Duncan Campbell. After another tight contest, Campbell recaptured the seat for the Tories by a majority of 271 votes. After six years of Liberal government, the electors of North Ayrshire reverted to their more traditional allegiances, perhaps rebelling against the background of the rapid social changes being introduced by H H Asquith’s reforming administration.
After the election, Anderson agreed to be re-adopted as prospective Liberal candidate for North Ayrshire, expressing a wish to contest the seat again. However the seat disappeared in boundary changes for the 1918 general election
and Anderson did not contest any of the successor seats. He did not stand for the House of Commons
again.
for the County of the City of Edinburgh
. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Edinburgh University and he also received a similar degree from Aberdeen University in 1924. He was Chairman of the Scottish Committee on Aliens, 1917–18 and, more prosaically, was Chairman of the Committee on Glasgow Market Lettings in 1933.
and had been a useful footballer in his youth both for Edinburgh University and for the well-known amateur side Queen’s Park
.
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician. At the time of his death he was the senior Scottish judge and held the judicial title of the Honourable Lord Anderson.
Family and education
Anderson was born at Coupar AngusCoupar Angus
Coupar Angus is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, situated eight kilometres south of Blairgowrie.The name Coupar Angus serves to differentiate the town from Cupar, Fife...
in 1862, the eldest son of Charles Enverdale Anderson, Provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
of Coupar Angus. He was educated at the High School of Dundee
High School of Dundee
The High School of Dundee is an independent, co-educational, day school in the city of Dundee, Scotland which provides both primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils...
and Edinburgh University where he graduated with MA
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
and LL.B degrees. He received a distinction in law and was awarded the Forensic Prize as the most distinguished law graduate of his year. In 1901, he married Kate Mackay from Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
. They had two sons and two daughters.
Career
Anderson was called to the Scottish bar in 1889 and established a large practice as an advocateFaculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
particularly in jury cases. He was made an Advocate Depute in 1906 and took silk in 1908. From 1911-1913 he held the post of Solicitor General for Scotland
Solicitor General for Scotland
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
. In 1913, he was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice
Senator of the College of Justice
The Senators of the College of Justice are judges of the College of Justice, a set of legal institutions involved in the administration of justice in Scotland. There are three types of Senator: Lords of Session ; Lords Commissioner of Justiciary ; and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court...
with the judicial title of Lord Anderson.
1906
Anderson was selected as Liberal candidate for North AyrshireNorth Ayrshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Ayrshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 until 1918. It returned one Member of Parliament , using the first-past-the-post voting system.-Boundaries:...
in December 1905 in order to contest the 1906 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
. He faced the sitting Unionist
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP, Thomas Cochrane. At the previous general election in 1900
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, there had been a straight fight between Unionist and Liberal candidates but in 1906 Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
also stood a candidate, James Brown. This had the effect of splitting the anti-Unionist vote and Cochrane held his seat with a majority of 1,016 votes over Anderson.
1910
Anderson fought in Ayrshire North again at the general election of January 1910. He again faced Cochrane and Brown as his opponents but this time the Labour vote declined and Anderson reaped the advantage. He gained the seat from Cochrane by a majority of 238 votes.At the general election held in December 1910, Anderson retained his seat, this time in a straight with a new Unionist candidate, Captain Duncan Campbell
Duncan Frederick Campbell
Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Frederick Campbell DSO was Unionist MP for North Ayrshire who died in World War I....
, and, against the general trend in Scotland, slightly increased his majority to 354 votes.
North Ayrshire by-election, 1911
In December 1911, Anderson was appointed Solicitor General for ScotlandSolicitor General for Scotland
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
, a law officer of the Crown
Law Officers of the Crown
The Law Officers of the Crown are the chief legal advisers to the Crown, and advise and represent the various governments in the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms. In England and Wales, Northern Ireland and most Commonwealth and colonial governments, the chief law officer of the...
. In accordance with the constitutional arrangements of the day, he was obliged to resign as an MP and fight a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
. The contest, which took place on 20 December 1911, was dominated by the government’s legislation on National Insurance
National Insurance Act 1911
The National Insurance Act 1911 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act is often regarded as one of the foundations of modern social welfare in the United Kingdom and forms part of the wider social welfare reforms of the Liberal Government of 1906-1914...
and the uncertainties this legislation would produce for individual electors, particularly those of small manufacturers and shopkeepers. Although there was no Labour candidate, Anderson was thought to have lost some support among working-class voters because of his opposition to Labour candidates in other recent elections. Anderson’s Unionist opponent was again Duncan Campbell. After another tight contest, Campbell recaptured the seat for the Tories by a majority of 271 votes. After six years of Liberal government, the electors of North Ayrshire reverted to their more traditional allegiances, perhaps rebelling against the background of the rapid social changes being introduced by H H Asquith’s reforming administration.
After the election, Anderson agreed to be re-adopted as prospective Liberal candidate for North Ayrshire, expressing a wish to contest the seat again. However the seat disappeared in boundary changes for the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
and Anderson did not contest any of the successor seats. He did not stand for the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
again.
Other appointments and honours
Anderson was sometime Deputy LieutenantDeputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for the County of the City of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Edinburgh University and he also received a similar degree from Aberdeen University in 1924. He was Chairman of the Scottish Committee on Aliens, 1917–18 and, more prosaically, was Chairman of the Committee on Glasgow Market Lettings in 1933.
Sports
Anderson was a keen sportsman. In addition to the usual gentleman’s pastimes of the day such as fishing and golf, he also enjoyed curlingCurling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
and had been a useful footballer in his youth both for Edinburgh University and for the well-known amateur side Queen’s Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
.
Death
Anderson died aged 73 in Edinburgh late on the evening of Wednesday 27 May 1936 from bronchial pneumonia. Despite having been unwell for some time he persevered with his duties on the bench until a few days before he died.Publication
- The Criminal Law of Scotland, Bell & Bradfute, Edinburgh 1892 and 2nd edn, 1904