Andrew Pringle, Lord Alemoor (died 1776) was a Scottish judge and

Senator of the College of Justice The senators of the College of Justice in Scotland 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 ...

Life

He was the son of John Pringle of the Haining, who was a

. Andrew Pringle passed the Scottish bar as an advocate in 1740 and became

Sheriff of Wigtown The Sheriff of Wigtown was historically the office responsible for enforcing law and order in Wigtown, Scotland and bringing criminals to justice. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis. From that date, following the Jacobi ...

in 1750. He then served as

Sheriff of Selkirk The Sheriff of Selkirk was historically a royal official responsible for enforcing justice in Selkirk, Scottish Borders, Selkirk, Scotland. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis. From that date, following the Jacobite upr ...

from 1751 until becoming

Solicitor General for Scotland His 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 Scottish Government on Scots Law. They are also responsible for the Crown Office and P ...

from 1755 until 1759, when he was appointed a

Lord of Session The senators of the College of Justice in Scotland 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 ...

with the judicial title Lord Alemoor. He had an unrivalled reputation as a lawyer and pleader. His position as a

was afterwards filled by David Ross, Lord Ankerville. Prior to 1757 he lived at Niddry's Wynd off the

Royal Mile The Royal Mile () is the nickname of a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage. The Royal ...

in Edinburgh. In 1757 he commissioned John Adam to build him small but imposing villa on high ground northeast of

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

close to

Restalrig Restalrig ( ) is a small residential suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland (historically, an estate and independent parish). It is located east of the city centre, west of Craigentinny and to the east of Lochend, Edinburgh, Lochend, both of which it ...

which he named Hawkhill House. Pringle was a bachelor so occupied the upper floors alone. The lower floor was occupied by his cook and servants. The building had a highly ornate interior. He died at Hawkhill House, north-east of

, on 14 January 1776. Hawkhill House was obtained by the city around 1950. The front garden was sold to build a bakery (later redeveloped as flats). The house and eastern grounds were proposed to be added to existing recreational ground to the east, but despite protest from the Scottish Georgian Society from 1956 onwards the house was eventually demolished in 1966 and replaced by high-rise flats.Scotland's Lost Buildings by Ian Gow

References

*Concise Dictionary of National Biography
Peebles and Selkirk by G C Pringle, 1914
1776 deaths Year of birth unknown Alemoor Solicitors general for Scotland Scottish sheriffs {{Scotland-law-bio-stub