Alexander Irving, Lord Newton

FRSE Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters, judged to be "eminently distinguished in their subject". This soci ...

(1766–1832) was a Scottish judge who served as professor of civil law at

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 1582 ...

from 1800 to 1826. He was a

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); ...

Life

He was born on 12 October 1766, the son of George Irving of Newton, by

Elvanfoot __NOTOC__ Elvanfoot is a small village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Elvanfoot is located at the confluence of the River Clyde and Elvan Water. The Clyde is crossed by a pedestrian suspension bridge that has been closed since 2007 for want o ...

(

South Lanarkshire gd, Siorrachd Lannraig a Deas , image_skyline = , image_flag = , image_shield = Arms_slanarkshire.jpg , image_blank_emblem = Slanarks.jpg , blank_emblem_type = Council logo , image_map ...

). The Irvings of Newton were a cadet branch of the Scottish family the Irvines of

Drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a she ...

. He was educated at Edinburgh High School 1773 to 1777 and then studied law at

. He was created an advocate in 1788. He became a professor of civil law at Edinburgh University in 1800 and in the same year took over as manager of the Scots Mining Company, then based at

Leadhills Leadhills, originally settled for the accommodation of miners, is a village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, WSW of Elvanfoot. The population in 1901 was 835. It was originally known as Waterhead. It is the second highest village in Scotland, ...

. In the final six years of his life he left the university to concentrate on his practical legal skills, becoming a Senator of the College of Justice (a High Court judge). At this time he was living at 5 Buccleuch Place, a large flat in Edinburgh's South Side. He later lived at 27 Heriot Row, Edinburgh. In 1804 he was elected a fellow of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

. His proposers were

John Playfair John Playfair FRSE, FRS (10 March 1748 – 20 July 1819) was a Church of Scotland minister, remembered as a scientist and mathematician, and a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. He is best known for his book ''Illu ...

Andrew Coventry Andrew Coventry FRSE (1762–1830) was a Scottish agriculturist. He was the first Professor of Agriculture in Great Britain. Life Andrew Coventry, born in February 1762, was eldest son of Rev George Coventry, minister of Stitchell in Roxburghs ...

, and

Thomas Charles Hope Thomas Charles Hope (21 July 1766 – 13 June 1844) was a British physician, chemist and lecturer. He proved the existence of the element strontium, and gave his name to Hope's Experiment, which shows that water reaches its maximum density at ...

. He served as president of the Society's Physical branch 1823 to 1828 and as their vice president 1828 to 1832. In December 1826 he was created a

and given the title of Lord Newton. In the late 18th century he was a member of the

Crochallan Fencibles The Crochallan Fencibles was an 18th-century Edinburgh convivial men's club that met in Daniel ("Dawney") Douglas's tavern on Anchor Close, a public house off the High Street (part of the Royal Mile). The 16th century doorway bore the inscription ...

, a club which met at Dawney's Tavern on Anchor Close in Edinburgh.Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 p.235 He died following a painful operation on kidney stones after which he became infected, dying on 4 March 1832 in Edinburgh (information from his gravestone) From: ''The Journal of Henry Cockburn, 1831-1853'', pp. 26–27

13th March 1832." Alexander Irving, Lord Newton, after enduring the worst possible operation of lithotomy with the greatest possible courage last January, died about ten days ago. No man ever rose so much above expectation after being made a judge. The poverty of his manner would probably have prevented his ever shining when he had to face a jury, and I am not certain that it would have enabled him to deliver even a legal argument with much judicial weight or luminousness, especially in a court with other judges, but as a single judge in civil causes, deciding with written leisurely judgements, he was perfect. An acute and well-instructed understanding, great knowledge of law, general intelligence, especially in science, a laborious patient manner, admirable listening, only broken by short judicious interrogations, perfect serenity, complete candour and a devotion to his business – these qualities account for the high judicial status he attained."

From: ''Kay’s Originals Vol. 2'', p. 462

No. CCCXXVL Twelve Advocates Who Plead Without Wigs 11." Alexander Irving, afterwards Lords Newton, was the son of George Irving of Newton. He was admitted to the bar in 1788; and for many years held the office of Treasurer to the Faculty of Advocates. He was distinguished for extensive legal judgements and in 1800 was appointed assistant and successor to Mr John Wilde, Professor of Civil Law in the University of Edinburgh. On the retirement of Lord Robertson, in 1826, he was promoted to the bench when he assumed the title of Lord Newton. His lordship filled the judicial seat only a few years. He died on the 23rd March 1832. As a judge he gave general satisfaction. Though a very indifferent speaker, he was an excellent lawyer, and his decisions were seldom altered in the Inner-House. He was mild and gentle in his manners. He was fond of music, and was an excellent performer on the violin. Lord Newton married Miss Irving, a relation of his own, by whom he left an only son.".

From:''Lt John Irving, Of H.M.S Terror, In Sir John Franklin’s Last Expedition to the Arctic Regions: A Memorial Sketch with Letters (1881)'' Benjamin Bell, pp1–2:

"Lord Newton (Lt Irving’s uncle) was an eminent mathematician and at the same time a man of general culture.”

Family

In 1814 he married Bethenia Irving (died 1855). Their only son was George Vere Irving FSA (1815–1869). Please note, in the earlier version of this text, ref to ''Grant's Old and New Edinburgh Vol.111'', pp. 187–188, Alexander Irving, Lord Newton, has been confused with Charles Hay, also Lord Newton.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irving, Alexander 1766 births 1832 deaths 19th-century Scottish judges Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Academics of the University of Edinburgh Senators of the College of Justice