Alexander Abercromby, Lord Abercromby of Tullibody (1745–1795) was a Scottish

advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. Different countries' legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a barrister or a solicitor. However, ...

, judge and essayist.

Life

Abercromby was born in

Tullibody House Tullibody ( gd, Tulach Bòide), is a town set in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies north of the River Forth near to the foot of the Ochil Hills within the Forth Valley. The town is south-west of Alva, north-west of Alloa and east-nor ...

Clackmannanshire Clackmannanshire (; sco, Clackmannanshire; gd, Siorrachd Chlach Mhannainn) is a historic county, council area, registration county and Lieutenancy area in Scotland, bordering the council areas of Stirling, Fife, and Perth & Kinross and the hi ...

on 15 October 1745, the fourth and youngest son of George Abercromby of

Tullibody Tullibody ( gd, Tulach Bòide), is a town set in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies north of the River Forth near to the foot of the Ochil Hills within the Forth Valley. The town is south-west of Alva, north-west of Alloa and east-nor ...

(1705-1800) and Mary Dundas. Two of his brothers entered the army; one of them became general Sir

Ralph Abercromby Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom), Lieutenant General Sir Ralph Abercromby (7 October 173428 March 1801) was a British people, British soldier and politician. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army, was appointed Gov ...

. Alexander was the brother-in-law of

Robert Bruce, Lord Kennet Robert Bruce of Kennet, Lord Kennet FRSE (24 December 1718 – 8 April 1785) was a Scottish advocate, legal scholar and judge. Life Bruce was born at Kennet House in Clackmannanshire on 24 December 1718, the son of Mary Balfour, daughter of Ro ...

and

James Edmonstone James Edmonstone FRSE (1793) was a Scottish army officer and agriculturalist. He was a joint founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1783. He was a close friend of fellow founder David Hume. Life He was born in Old Newton House near Doune ...

. Alexander studied law at the

University of Edinburgh 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 15 ...

, where he seems to have been chiefly distinguished for his handsome person and engaging disposition. He was admitted a member of the

Faculty of Advocates The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary. The Faculty of Advocates is a constitu ...

in 1766, and was soon afterwards (1770) appointed sheriff-depute of Clackmannanshire. However, personal residence was not required within the county served, and he continued the practice of his profession at the bar in Edinburgh. In 1780 he resigned his sheriffship and was appointed one of the advocates-depute by

Henry Dundas Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, PC, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, FRSE (28 April 1742 – 28 May 1811), styled as Lord Melville from 1802, was the trusted lieutenant of British Pri ...

, then

Lord Advocate , body = , insignia = Crest of the Kingdom of Scotland.svg , insigniasize = 110px , image = File:Official Portrait of Dorothy Bain QC.png , incumbent = Dorothy Bain KC , incumbentsince = 22 June 2021 , appointer = Monarch on the advice ...

of Scotland, and acquired a good practice. He also helped

Henry Mackenzie Henry Mackenzie FRSE (August 1745 – 14 January 1831, born and died in Edinburgh) was a Scottish lawyer, novelist and writer sometimes seen as the Addison of the North. While remembered mostly as an author, his main income came from legal role ...

, the author of the ''Man of Feeling'', to start the ''Mirror'', published at Edinburgh in 1779, and contributed to the ''Lounger'' in 1785 and 1786. In 1783 he was one of the original founders 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 ...

. Abercromby's papers show much correctness of style and tenderness of expression. In 1792 he took his seat on the bench of the

Court of Session The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland and constitutes part of the College of Justice; the supreme criminal court of Scotland is the High Court of Justiciary. The Court of Session sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh ...

under the judicial title of Lord Abercromby, and a few months afterwards was appointed one of the lords commissioners of justiciary. In Edinburgh his offices were at Parliament Square and his house was at Horse Wynd.Williamsons Edinburgh Street Directory 1784

Publications

Lord Abercromby's known contributions to literature consist of ten magazine articles in the ''Mirror'' and nine in the ''Lounger.''

Freemasonry

He was a Scottish Freemason having been Initiated in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, No.2, (Edinburgh). He subsequently became an Affiliate Member of The Lodge of Holyrood House (St Luke's), No.44, in July 1774.

Death

On 17 November 1795, he died of pulmonary disease at

Exmouth Exmouth is a harbor, port town, civil parishes in England, civil parish and seaside resort, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe and southeast of Exeter. In 2011 it had a population of 34,432, making Exmouth the List of town ...

References

;Attribution

External links

*
The Grand Lodge of Scotland
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abercromby, Alexander 1745 births 1795 deaths 18th-century Scottish people People from Clackmannanshire Alumni of the University of Edinburgh School of Law Founder Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Members of the Faculty of Advocates Scottish essayists Abercromby Scottish Freemasons 18th-century Scottish lawyers Scottish sheriffs