Sir Alexander Falconer, 1st Lord Falconer of Halkerton (1595–1671), was a Scottish judge.

Life

Falconer was the eldest son of Sir Alexander Falconer of Halkertoun, by his wife Agnes Carnegie, eldest daughter of

David Carnegie of Colluthie David Carnegie of Colluthie (1559–1598) was a Scottish landowner and administrator. He was an auditor of the Scottish exchequer in 1595 and joined the government finance committee known as the Octavians in 1596. David Carnegie was the younger ...

. On 9 July 1639 he succeeded Lord Woodhall as an ordinary

lord of session 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) ...

. King Charles I granted Sir Alexander a yearly pension of £200 with the title, for his ability, integrity, and affection for administration of Justice. In November 1641 was appointed anew by king and parliament to be judge "ad vitam aut culpam". He represented

Kincardineshire Kincardineshire, also known as the Mearns (from the Scottish Gaelic meaning "the Stewartry"), is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area on the coast of northeast Scotland. It is bounded by Aberdeenshire on the north and w ...

in the convention 1643–4, and in the parliaments of 1644–5, 1645–7. He was a commissioner for the loan and tax in 1643, and a member of the committee of war for Kincardineshire in 1643, 1644, and 1646, and for

Forfarshire Angus ( sco, Angus; gd, Aonghas) is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross. Main industries include agri ...

in 1648. He was a commissioner for the plantation of kirks in 1644, a commissioner of the exchequer in 1645, a member of the committee of estates in 1645 and 1647, and a colonel for

Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire ( sco, Aiberdeenshire; gd, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland. It takes its name from the County of Aberdeen which has substantially differe ...

in 1648. His rise and influence in the Scottish government was recognized on 20 December 1646, when he was created "

Lord Falconer of Halkerton The title Lord Falconer of Halkerton was created in the peerage of Scotland on 20 December 1646, for Sir Alexander Falconer, Lord of Session, with remainder to his heirs-male whatsoever. King Charles I granted Sir Alexander a yearly pension of � ...

", with destination to himself and his heirs-male whatsoever. On 15 February 1649 he was deprived of his seat in the

College of Justice The College of Justice includes the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies. The constituent bodies of the national supreme courts are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, the Office of the Accountant of Court, an ...

, and "ordained to lend money for the public use", on account of his accession to the "

engagement An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be ''fi ...

". He appears, however, as Baron Falconer in the list of Scots nobility in 1650, and was a commissioner of supply for

in 1656 and 1659. Falconer was reappointed to his seat in the College of Justice at 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 ...

, and retained it till his death. In 1661 he was a commissioner of excise, and a member of the commission for visiting the

university of Aberdeen The University of Aberdeen ( sco, University o' 'Aiberdeen; abbreviated as ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; gd, Oilthigh Obar Dheathain) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Sc ...

. He appears as sitting in parliament as Lord Halkertoun till 1669, and died 1 October 1671.

Family

Falconer married Anne, only daughter of

John Lindsay, 9th Lord Lindsay of Byres John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

, by whom he had one son; and one daughter Agnes, who married

George Ogilvy, 2nd Lord Banff George Ogilvy, 2nd Lord Banff (died March 1668) was member of the old Scottish Parliament, a feudal baron, and a Cavalier. Family The son of Sir George Ogilvy, 1st Lord Banff, and 1st Baronet (1627), by his spouse Janet, daughter of William S ...

References

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Falconer, Alexander 1595 births Senators of the College of Justice 17th-century Scottish judges 1671 deaths Peers of Scotland created by Charles I Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1643–44 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1644–1647