Fergusson was the eldest son of Sir John Fergusson, 1st Baronet, of Kilkerran (whom he succeeded to the Fergusson Baronetcy in 1729), was born in 1688. He studied law possibly at Leyden,[1] and was admitted advocate 1711.[2]
Fergusson was elected as the Member of Parliament for Sutherland in 1734, and sat for that county until he was made lord of session on 7 November 1735. It was then he took the courtesy title of Lord Kilkerran. He was made Lord of Justiciary 3 April 1749. He died at his home near Edinburgh 20 January 1759.[2]
Worksedit
Fergusson collected and digested in the form of a dictionary the Decisions of the Court of Session from the Year 1738 to the Year 1752. To these are added "a few decisions given in the years 1736 and 1737".[3] This was published by his son George (Edinburgh, 1775). "A volume much admired for its clarity, and as a model for the most useful form of law reports".[4]
Assessmentedit
In Tytler's Life of Lord Kames Fergusson is estimated as "undoubtedly one of the ablest lawyers of his time. His knowledge was founded on a thorough acquaintance with the Roman jurisprudence, imbibed from the best commentators of the pandects, and with the recondite learning of Craig, who has laid open the fountains of the Scottish law in all that regards the system of feudalism. … The decisions which he has recorded during the period when he sat as a judge of the supreme court exhibit the clearest comprehension and the soundest views of jurisprudence, and will for ever serve as a model for the most useful form of law reports".[5]
Familyedit
In September 1726 Fergusson married, Jean (1703–1766) (daughter of James Maitland, Viscount Maitland (born circa 1680–1709) and Jean, daughter of John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland).[4][6] They had a large family, many of whom, with his wife, survived him.[2] These included:[4]
AdamFRSE LLD (1733–1813), their eldest surviving son who inherited the baronetcy, and became an advocate, MP (alternatively for both Ayrshire and Edinburgh), and Rector of Glasgow University;
Tytler (1814). Life of Lord Kames. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Edinburgh. pp. 52, 53.
Watt, Francis; McConnell, Anita (reviewer) (2004). "Fergusson, Sir James, second baronet, Lord Kilkerran (bap. 1688, d. 1759)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9333.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Watt, Francis (1889). "Fergusson, James (1688-1759)". In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 18. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 358–359. Endnotes:
Brunton and Haig's Senators of the College of Justice, page 50
Anderson's Scottish Nation, ii. 195
Foster's Collectanea Genealogica
Members of Parliament (Scotland), page 135
See also Foster's Baronetage and Burke's Peerage and Baronetage.
james, fergusson, lord, kilkerran, james, fergusson, kilkerran, baronet, lord, kilkerran, 1688, 1759, scottish, judge, born1688died1759nationalityscottish, contents, biography, works, assessment, family, notes, referencesbiography, editfergusson, eldest, john,. Sir James Fergusson of Kilkerran 2nd Baronet Lord Kilkerran 1688 1759 was a Scottish judge Sir James Fergusson Lord KilkerranBorn1688Died1759NationalityScottish Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 Assessment 4 Family 5 Notes 6 ReferencesBiography editFergusson was the eldest son of Sir John Fergusson 1st Baronet of Kilkerran whom he succeeded to the Fergusson Baronetcy in 1729 was born in 1688 He studied law possibly at Leyden 1 and was admitted advocate 1711 2 Fergusson was elected as the Member of Parliament for Sutherland in 1734 and sat for that county until he was made lord of session on 7 November 1735 It was then he took the courtesy title of Lord Kilkerran He was made Lord of Justiciary 3 April 1749 He died at his home near Edinburgh 20 January 1759 2 Works editFergusson collected and digested in the form of a dictionary the Decisions of the Court of Session from the Year 1738 to the Year 1752 To these are added a few decisions given in the years 1736 and 1737 3 This was published by his son George Edinburgh 1775 A volume much admired for its clarity and as a model for the most useful form of law reports 4 Assessment editIn Tytler s Life of Lord Kames Fergusson is estimated as undoubtedly one of the ablest lawyers of his time His knowledge was founded on a thorough acquaintance with the Roman jurisprudence imbibed from the best commentators of the pandects and with the recondite learning of Craig who has laid open the fountains of the Scottish law in all that regards the system of feudalism The decisions which he has recorded during the period when he sat as a judge of the supreme court exhibit the clearest comprehension and the soundest views of jurisprudence and will for ever serve as a model for the most useful form of law reports 5 Family editIn September 1726 Fergusson married Jean 1703 1766 daughter of James Maitland Viscount Maitland born circa 1680 1709 and Jean daughter of John Gordon 16th Earl of Sutherland 4 6 They had a large family many of whom with his wife survived him 2 These included 4 Adam FRSE LLD 1733 1813 their eldest surviving son who inherited the baronetcy and became an advocate MP alternatively for both Ayrshire and Edinburgh and Rector of Glasgow University Helen 1741 1810 who became the second wife of Sir David Dalrymple Lord Hailes George 1743 1827 who became Lord Hermand Notes edit Watt 1889 p 358 cites Index of Leyden Students page 35 a b c Watt 1889 p 358 Watt 1889 p 358 cites advertisement a b c Watt amp McConnell 2004 Watt 1889 p 359 cites Tytler 1814 pp 52 53 Mosley 2003 p 2249 as cited at ThePeerage com References editMosley Charles ed 2003 Burke s Peerage Baronetage amp Knightage Vol 2 107th 3 volumes ed Wilmington Delaware U S A Burke s Peerage Genealogical Books p 2249 Tytler 1814 Life of Lord Kames Vol 1 2nd ed Edinburgh pp 52 53 Watt Francis McConnell Anita reviewer 2004 Fergusson Sir James second baronet Lord Kilkerran bap 1688 d 1759 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 9333 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Watt Francis 1889 Fergusson James 1688 1759 In Stephen Leslie ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 18 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 358 359 Endnotes Brunton and Haig s Senators of the College of Justice page 50 Anderson s Scottish Nation ii 195 Foster s Collectanea Genealogica Members of Parliament Scotland page 135 See also Foster s Baronetage and Burke s Peerage and Baronetage Parliament of Great Britain Preceded byLord Strathnaver Member of Parliament for Sutherland1734 1735 Succeeded byJames St Clair Baronetage of Nova Scotia Preceded byJohn Fergusson Baronet of Kilkerran 1729 1759 Succeeded byAdam Fergusson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Fergusson Lord Kilkerran amp oldid 1214411660, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
