Sir James Foulis, Lord Colinton (died 1688), was a Scottish politician and judge.

Life

Foulis was the only son of Alexander Foulis, by Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Hepburn, esq., of Ford, and widow of Sir John Stuart, sheriff of Bute. His father was created a baronet of

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

7 June 1634. James was knighted by

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

14 November 1641, and represented

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

in parliament in 1645–1948 and in 1651. He was a commissioner to enforce the acts against runaways and deficients in 1644, and a member of the committee of estates in 1646–1947. He adopted the royalist cause, was taken prisoner 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 ...

by a detachment of

George Monck George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle JP KG PC (6 December 1608 – 3 January 1670) was an English soldier, who fought on both sides during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. A prominent military figure under the Commonwealth, his support was cruc ...

's force, then besieging Dundee, 28 September 1651, and was imprisoned for his royalist opinions. After the

Restoration Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to: * Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage ** Audio restoration ** Film restoration ** Image restoration ** Textile restoration * Restoration ecology ...

he became an ordinary lord of session (14 February), and a commissioner of excise in 1661. He was commissioner to parliament for

Edinburghshire Midlothian (; gd, Meadhan Lodainn) is a historic county, registration county, lieutenancy area and one of 32 council areas of Scotland used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-central Lowlands, bordering the City of Edinburgh ...

from 1661 to 1681, and a lord of the articles in each parliament from the Restoration. When the

High Court of Justiciary The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court in Scotland. The High Court is both a trial court and a court of appeal. As a trial court, the High Court sits on circuit at Parliament House or in the adjacent former Sheriff Cou ...

was constituted in February 1671 he became a lord commissioner, and took his seat in parliament and the oaths in 1672, having the title of Lord Colinton. He was sworn of the

Privy Council of Scotland The Privy Council of Scotland ( — 1 May 1708) was a body that advised the Scottish monarch. In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of ...

in 1674, and was a commissioner for the plantation of kirks in 1678. On 12 December 1681, at the trial of

Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll (26 February 1629 – 30 June 1685) was a Scottish peer and soldier. The hereditary chief of Clan Campbell, and a prominent figure in Scottish politics, he was a Royalist supporter during the latter stage ...

, he voted, old cavalier though he was, against the relevancy of the indictment, and it was only carried by

Lord Nairne Lord Nairne is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created by Charles II for Sir Robert Nairne of Strathord in 1681, which since 1995 is held by the Viscount Mersey. History Sir Robert Nairne of Strathord (c. 1620–1683), a supporter of Charle ...

's casting vote. On 22 February 1684 Foulis was appointed

lord justice clerk The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session. Originally ''clericus justiciarie'' or Clerk to the Court of Justiciary, the counterpart in the criminal courts of the Lord ...

in succession to Sir Richard Maitland, and died at Edinburgh 19 January 1688.

Family

Foulis was twice married, secondly to Dame Margaret Erskine, Lady Tarbet, daughter of Sir George Erskine of Innertail. He had a son

James James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

, who succeeded to the title, and was a member of parliament; and a daughter, who married James Livingstone.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foulis, James Year of birth unknown 1688 deaths 17th-century Scottish people

Lords Justice Clerk Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1644–1647 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1648–1651 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1661–1663 Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1665 Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1667 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1669–1674 Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1678 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1681–1682 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1685–1686 Shire Commissioners to the Parliament of Scotland Politicians from Edinburgh