Gifford was born in Edinburgh on 29 February 1820 to Katherine Ann (née West) (1786–1873) and James Gifford (1780–1862), an affluent grocer and Treasurer of the Merchant Company of Edinburgh.[1] His twin brother was John Gifford (1820–1895). His childhood home was at 22 Union Place in the east end of the New Town.[2]
He went to school at Edinburgh Institution (now known as Stewart's Melville) and in 1835 was apprenticed to be a solicitor with his uncle, Alexander Gifford SSC[3] at 2 Hill Square on the south side of the city.[4] He then studied law at the University of Edinburgh and was called to the bar as an advocate in 1849.[5]
He was a Radical in politics, and expected no appointment from Government, until he was made an advocate depute in 1861, under Palmerston. He prosecuted cases for the Crown including Jessie McLauchlan in the 1863 Sandyford murder case.[5] He was appointed Sheriff of Orkney and Shetland in 1865, but delegated his duties to a resident sheriff-substitute and continued his private practice as an advocate.[5]
In 1870 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer was Sir Charles Neaves.[1] At this stage in his life he lived at 4 Lower Joppa with his brother John on the eastern coastline of the city.[6]
His lucrative private practice as an advocate made him a fortune, which he bequeathed towards the endowment of the four Gifford Lectureships on natural theology in connection with each of the four universities in Scotland then extant (Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and St Andrews); he was a man of a philosophical turn of mind, and a student of the works of Spinoza. He held office as a judge from 1870 to 1881, despite symptoms of paralysis from 1872 onwards.[5] On his resignation, due to ill-health, he was replaced by Patrick Fraser thereafter known as Lord Fraser.[7]
In 1863 he married Margaret Elliot Pott (1842–1868), 22 years his junior. They had one son, Herbert James Gifford FRSE (born 1864) who became a civil engineer.[1][10] Margaret died aged 26 (probably in childbirth).[citation needed]
^ abcBiographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783 – 2002(PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN0-902-198-84-X.
^ abcd"Biography of Adam Lord Gifford". The Gifford Lectures, Over 100 Years of Lectures on Natural Theology. Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews. 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
^Charles Sale. "Gravestone Photographs Resource grave details page". gravestonephotos.com. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
^"RootsWeb.com Home Page". freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
Oxford DNB
Nuttall Encyclopedia
Gifford Lectures.
January 31, 2023
adam, gifford, lord, gifford, frse, february, 1820, edinburgh, january, 1887, scottish, advocate, judge, founder, gifford, lectures, lord, gifford, life, editgifford, born, edinburgh, february, 1820, katherine, née, west, 1786, 1873, james, gifford, 1780, 1862. Adam Gifford Lord Gifford FRSE ˈ ɡ ɪ f er d 29 February 1820 Edinburgh 20 January 1887 was a Scottish advocate and judge He was the founder of the Gifford Lectures Lord Gifford Life EditGifford was born in Edinburgh on 29 February 1820 to Katherine Ann nee West 1786 1873 and James Gifford 1780 1862 an affluent grocer and Treasurer of the Merchant Company of Edinburgh 1 His twin brother was John Gifford 1820 1895 His childhood home was at 22 Union Place in the east end of the New Town 2 He went to school at Edinburgh Institution now known as Stewart s Melville and in 1835 was apprenticed to be a solicitor with his uncle Alexander Gifford SSC 3 at 2 Hill Square on the south side of the city 4 He then studied law at the University of Edinburgh and was called to the bar as an advocate in 1849 5 He was a Radical in politics and expected no appointment from Government until he was made an advocate depute in 1861 under Palmerston He prosecuted cases for the Crown including Jessie McLauchlan in the 1863 Sandyford murder case 5 He was appointed Sheriff of Orkney and Shetland in 1865 but delegated his duties to a resident sheriff substitute and continued his private practice as an advocate 5 In 1870 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer was Sir Charles Neaves 1 At this stage in his life he lived at 4 Lower Joppa with his brother John on the eastern coastline of the city 6 His lucrative private practice as an advocate made him a fortune which he bequeathed towards the endowment of the four Gifford Lectureships on natural theology in connection with each of the four universities in Scotland then extant Aberdeen Glasgow Edinburgh and St Andrews he was a man of a philosophical turn of mind and a student of the works of Spinoza He held office as a judge from 1870 to 1881 despite symptoms of paralysis from 1872 onwards 5 On his resignation due to ill health he was replaced by Patrick Fraser thereafter known as Lord Fraser 7 He died at his home Granton House in Granton Edinburgh 8 on 20 January 1887 and is buried in Old Calton Cemetery with his parents 9 Family EditIn 1863 he married Margaret Elliot Pott 1842 1868 22 years his junior They had one son Herbert James Gifford FRSE born 1864 who became a civil engineer 1 10 Margaret died aged 26 probably in childbirth citation needed He was the uncle of Sir Walter Raleigh 1861 1922 the professor of English at the University of Glasgow References Edit a b c Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783 2002 PDF The Royal Society of Edinburgh July 2006 ISBN 0 902 198 84 X Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1820 Biography of Adam Lord Gifford The Gifford Lectures Retrieved 10 February 2018 Edinburgh and Leith Post Office directory 1835 a b c d Biography of Adam Lord Gifford The Gifford Lectures Over 100 Years of Lectures on Natural Theology Universities of Aberdeen Edinburgh Glasgow and St Andrews 2014 Retrieved 29 July 2015 Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1870 ODNB Patrick Fraser Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1887 Charles Sale Gravestone Photographs Resource grave details page gravestonephotos com Retrieved 10 February 2018 RootsWeb com Home Page freepages genealogy rootsweb ancestry com Retrieved 10 February 2018 Oxford DNB Nuttall Encyclopedia Gifford Lectures Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Adam Gifford Lord Gifford amp oldid 1095610190, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
