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. Career David Carnegie was the younger son of Sir Robert Carnegie of Kinnaird (d. 1565) and Margaret Guthrie (d. 1571). Colluthie is near Leuchars in the paris ...

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

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 ...

. 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 or the County of Kincardine, also known as the Mearns (from the Scottish Gaelic meaning "the stewartry"), is a Shires of Scotland, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area on the ...

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 (; ) is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross. Main industries include agriculture and fishing. Global pharmaceuticals ...

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 (; ) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland. It takes its name from the Shires of Scotland, historic county of Aberdeenshire (historic), Aberdeenshire, which had substantial ...

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

, 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 ''f ...

". 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, 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 (abbreviated ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; ) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone, Bis ...

. 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, by whom he had one son; and one daughter Agnes, who married George Ogilvy, 2nd Lord Banff.

References

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Falconer, Alexander 1595 births 1671 deaths Nobility from Aberdeenshire Senators of the College of Justice 17th-century Scottish judges 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