Alexander Boswell (judge)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck, 8th Laird of Auchinleck (1706–1782) was a judge
of the supreme court
s of Scotland
. He was the father of the author
and biographer James Boswell
, and grandfather of songwriter
Sir Alexander Boswell.
Boswell was son of James Boswell (ca. 1672-1749), 7th Laird of Auchinleck. As a judge he took the courtesy title Lord Auchinleck from the name of his estate at Auchinleck House
, of which he was the 8th Laird. He is noted for rescuing of the Auchinleck manuscript
in 1740 from a professor of the University of Aberdeen
who was in the process of destroying it. He donated the manuscript to the Advocates' Library
in Edinburgh
.
He is known for frequently arguing with his son, James Boswell, upon matters such as Boswell's career choice, his publishing methods and routes of travel, his friends and even his choice of wife.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the supreme court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
s of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He was the father of the author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and biographer James Boswell
James Boswell
James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck was a lawyer, diarist, and author born in Edinburgh, Scotland; he is best known for the biography he wrote of one of his contemporaries, the English literary figure Samuel Johnson....
, and grandfather of songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Sir Alexander Boswell.
Boswell was son of James Boswell (ca. 1672-1749), 7th Laird of Auchinleck. As a judge he took the courtesy title Lord Auchinleck from the name of his estate at Auchinleck House
Auchinleck House
Auchinleck House is an 18th-century mansion in Scotland. It is situated near the town of Auchinleck near Cumnock and Ayr in East Ayrshire. The Auchinleck Estate has been inhabited since the 13th century, and the remains of Auchinleck Castle and Auchinleck Old House stand in the estate...
, of which he was the 8th Laird. He is noted for rescuing of the Auchinleck manuscript
Auchinleck manuscript
The Auchinleck Manuscript, NLS Adv. MS 19.2.1, currently forms part of the collection of the National Library of Scotland. It is an illuminated manuscript copied on parchment in the 14th century in London. The manuscript provides a glimpse of a time of considerable political tension in England...
in 1740 from a professor of the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
who was in the process of destroying it. He donated the manuscript to the Advocates' Library
Advocates' Library
The Advocates' Library is a law library belonging to the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh, founded in 1682. Until 1925 it was the deposit library for Scotland, after which the role was taken on by the National Library of Scotland....
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
He is known for frequently arguing with his son, James Boswell, upon matters such as Boswell's career choice, his publishing methods and routes of travel, his friends and even his choice of wife.