Adam Hepburn, Lord Humbie MP (c.1600–1656) was a 17th-century Scottish judge, politician, soldier and Senator of the College of Justice. A strong Royalist during the

English Civil War The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...

, 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 Stobo Kirk is an ancient church of the Church of Scotland. It is dedicated to St Mungo and is situated near the B712 off the A72 just 6 miles south-west of Peebles in the ancient county of Peeblesshire, now part of the Scottish Borders Council ...

, 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 Humbie is a hamlet and rural parish in East Lothian, Scotland lying in south-east of the county, approximately south-west of Haddington and south-east of Edinburgh. Humbie as it is known today was formed as the result of the union between Keit ...

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 Senator of the College of Justice under the title of Lord Humbie. He was knighted by

King Charles I of England Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until Execution of Charles I, his execution in 1649. He was born into the House of Stuart as the second son of King James VI of ...

in 1641 and served as MP for Haddington in 1643. In the same year (during the

) 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 Infantry under General Leslie 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 Scone Palace is a Category A-listed historic house near the village of Scone and the city of Perth, Scotland. Built in red sandstone with a castellated roof, it is an example of the Gothic Revival style in Scotland. Scone was originally the s ...

in 1650. In 1651 he was created a Burgess of Dundee 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 and spent some years as a prisoner in the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...

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

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