James Robertson, Baron Robertson
Encyclopedia
James Patrick Bannerman Robertson, Baron Robertson (19 August 1845 - 1909), was a Scottish judge and Conservative
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 until 1891 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Robertson.
Robertson was the son of the Rev. R. J. Robertson, of Forteviot, Perthshire and his wife Helen Bannerman, daughter of Rev. J. Bannerman of Cargill, Perthshire. He studied at Edinburgh University (MA 1864, hon LLD 1890), and passed to the Scottish bar in 1867. He became a Queen's Counsel
in 1885.
Robertson stood unsuccessfully for parliament at Linlithgowshire
in 1880. At the 1885 general election
he was elected Conservative
Member of Parliament
for Buteshire and held the seat until 1891. He was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland
in 1885 and again in 1886 and was appointed Lord Advocate
in 1888 and was made a Privy Counsellor in the same year. He carried the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889.
Robertson gave up his seat when he was appointed Lord President of the Court of Session
in 1891, and was appointed a Law lord and Life peer
as Baron Robertson, of Forteviot in the County of Perthshire
. He was Rector of Edinburgh University in 1893 and was also Chairman of the Irish University Commission.
In 1899, he was a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
.
In later life he retired to live in Muchalls Castle
in Aberdeenshire
and died at the age of 74.
Robertson married Philadelphia Mary Lucy Fraser, daughter of W. N. Fraserof Tornaveen, Aberdeenshire in 1872.
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...
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 until 1891 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Robertson.
Robertson was the son of the Rev. R. J. Robertson, of Forteviot, Perthshire and his wife Helen Bannerman, daughter of Rev. J. Bannerman of Cargill, Perthshire. He studied at Edinburgh University (MA 1864, hon LLD 1890), and passed to the Scottish bar in 1867. He became a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1885.
Robertson stood unsuccessfully for parliament at Linlithgowshire
Linlithgowshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Linlithgowshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 to 1945. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system....
in 1880. At the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
he was elected Conservative
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...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Buteshire and held the seat until 1891. He was appointed 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 1885 and again in 1886 and was appointed Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
in 1888 and was made a Privy Counsellor in the same year. He carried the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889.
Robertson gave up his seat when he was appointed Lord President of the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
in 1891, and was appointed a Law lord and Life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Robertson, of Forteviot in the County of Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
. He was Rector of Edinburgh University in 1893 and was also Chairman of the Irish University Commission.
In 1899, he was a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
.
In later life he retired to live in Muchalls Castle
Muchalls Castle
Muchalls Castle stands overlooking the North Sea in the countryside of Kincardine and Mearns, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The lower course is a well preserved double groined 13th century towerhouse structure, built by the Frasers of Muchalls. Upon this structure, the 17th century castle was begun by...
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
and died at the age of 74.
Robertson married Philadelphia Mary Lucy Fraser, daughter of W. N. Fraserof Tornaveen, Aberdeenshire in 1872.