Adam Anderson, Lord Anderson

Adam Anderson, Lord Anderson FRSE (c. 1797 – 28 September 1853) was a Scottish judge.

Life

He was the son of Samuel Anderson, an Edinburgh banker.

He qualified as an Advocate in 1818. From 1835 to 1841 he was Sheriff of Perth.[1]

He served as Solicitor General for Scotland from 1842 to 1846 and as Lord Advocate from February to May 1852.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 5 February 1849.[2]

Character

He is described in the journal of James Robertson, sheriff-substitute, in his entry for 22 November 1842[3] as follows:

Anderson's appointment must give general satisfaction. I remember when I went to Edinburgh first in November 1818 Anderson was newly come out to the bar that same year, and McNeill two years before...Anderson is a son of the late Mr Anderson of Moredun. He is connected with the Forbeses and Hays, and his brother is now one of the Partners of Sir William Forbes & Company's Bank. There is a Colony of the Andersons in and about Edinburgh such as the Andersons of St Germains, Moredun, &c &c - all cousins, and all descended from decent East Lothian farmers as I believe and elevated into gentry some Century back. If I remember right their ancestor acted as Guide to Charles Edward's Army in their attack upon Cope through the Marshes of Preston to which neighbourhood he belonged...He is a thin pale man, six feet five or six inches high, with a delicate complexion, gentlemanlike look, mild, modest and respectable. His gait in walking has a peculiar twist that reminds one of a bent willow, or a serpent or Eel. His voice is weak and squeaking, but Clear, and his mind like his person is respectable. He is a good lawyer, is acute, fluent in speech, but neither eloquent nor forcible - and is apt to be somewhat diffuse and prolix in his pleadings. His fluency too is more acquired than natural. - In the Teind Court the whole Judges sit together, and I remember Adam Anderson, then a boyish looking lad in the summer of 1819 or 1820, rising up in the middle of a very thronged bar and crowded Court, to make a motion. His length appeared awkward and preposterous - he mistook his motion, stammered out something in great trepidation, and when the Lord President Hope with a look of surprise and good humour corrected his mistake poor Adam sat down amidst a general titter from the bench, bar and miscellaneous crowd of agents and clerks behind the bar. Now he sits in a silk gown from within the bar and enjoys a first rate practice, with the general estimation and respect of the profession.

When the Conservatives came in in [sic] December 1834 Duncan McNeill was appointed Solicitor-General and Anderson succeeded him as Sheriff of Perth. He resigned this office about a twelve month ago amidst the general regret of all classes and parties in the county in favour of Whigham, his senior by two years at the bar. He is a batchelor. So much for Anderson.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf
  2. ↑ "Former Fellows of the RSE" (PDF). Royal Society of Edinburgh web site.
  3. ↑ "Journal of James Robertson" (PDF). James Irvine Robertson web site.


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