Adam Hepburn, Lord Humbie MP (c.1600–1656) was a 17th-century Scottish judge, politician, soldier and

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 (judges of the Court of Session); ...

. A strong Royalist during the English Civil War, he was acquainted by both Charles I and Charles II.

Life

He was the only child of Rev Adam Hepburn (died 1602), minister of Stobo Kirk, and his wife, Agnes Foulis of Colinton. His father was from a wealthy background and purchased the estates of both Hartside and Humbie in 1586. On the death of his father he inherited the estate of Humbie south-west of Haddington. Given his young age this would have been placed in trust until he reached the age of majority (then 21). There are seven mansion houses in the parish of Humbie but it is presumed his house was Humbie House, east of the village. He trained as a lawyer and in June 1640 was appointed clerk to the Committee of Estates. In November 1641 he was elected a

under the title of Lord Humbie. He was knighted by King Charles I of England in 1641 and served as MP for Haddington in 1643. In the same year (during the English Civil War) in August, he was appointed Collector General and Treasurer of the British Army (for the King). In 1646/47 he served as Colonel in Chief of the

East Lothian East Lothian (; sco, East Lowden; gd, Lodainn an Ear) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921. In 1975, the histo ...

Infantry under

General Leslie David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark (c. 1600–1682) was a Scottish cavalry officer. He fought for the Swedish army of Gustavus Adolphus during the Thirty Years' War. He had entered Swedish service in 1630, serving as a captain in the regiment of Alex ...

in the Covenanter's Army. Following the Civil War, at the Restoration, Hepburn was on the committee organising the Scottish coronation of Charles II on the Stone of Destiny at Scone Palace in 1650. In 1651 he was created a Burgess of

Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...

with several other prominent figures (as a political gesture). He was captured with his son and others, by Cromwell's troops under Col. Aldriche, two months later at

Alyth Alyth () ( gd, Ailt) is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, northeast of Blairgowrie and about northwest of Dundee. In 2016 the town had an estimated population of 2,400. First mentioned by name in a 12th-century royal charter of Willia ...

and spent some years as a prisoner in the Tower of London. He was released and permitted to return to Scotland around 1655. Adam Hepburn died in June 1656.

Family

He married his cousin, and mother's namesake, Agnes Foulis, in December 1629. They had at least 13 children. His eldest daughter Janet Hepburn married Sir

James Dundas, Lord Arniston Sir James Dundas, Lord Arniston (1620–1679) was a Scottish politician and judge.Although styled Lord Arniston like his son this was not an hereditary title but one assumed by them on becoming an ordinary lord of session (judge). He served as ...

. His son Thomas (1631-1668) married Elizabeth Johnston, the daughter of

Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston Archibald Johnston, Lord Wariston (1611 – 1663) was a Scottish judge and statesman. He assisted Alexander Henderson in writing the Scottish National Covenant in 1638, and was appointed Procurator of the Kirk in the same year. He helped ne ...

References

1600s births 1656 deaths People from East Lothian Members of the Parliament of England (pre-1707) English Civil War Senators of the College of Justice {{17thC-England-MP-stub