Arthur Dewar, Lord Dewar
Encyclopedia
Arthur Dewar, later Lord Dewar, (March 14, 1860 - June 14, 1917) was a Scottish
politician and judge, who served as a Liberal
Member of Parliament
for Edinburgh South
as well as Solicitor General for Scotland
and later a Senator of the College of Justice
.
He was born in Perth
, the fourth son of John Dewar, Sr.
the distiller and founder of John Dewar & Sons. His brothers, Thomas
and John
, would run the family business. He married Lettie Dalrymple in 1892, with whom he would have one daughter.
He was educated at Perth Academy
and then at Edinburgh University, graduating in 1882. He was admitted to the Scottish Bar
in 1885, and in 1892 was appointed the Advocate-Depute for the Glasgow circuit, a minor governmental post, which he held until 1895 when the Conservative Party
came into power.
In an 1899 by-election he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South
, defeating Major-General A.G. Wauchope
, but was defeated himself in the 1900 general election
by Sir Andrew Agnew
. He stood again in the 1906 general election
, where he won the seat. He had been made King's Counsel in 1904, and served as Solicitor General for Scotland
from 1909-1910.
He was re-elected in the January 1910 general election, but in April was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice
in 1910, and resigned from the Commons. He took the judicial title of Lord Dewar, and served in the post until his death.
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...
politician and judge, who served as a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Edinburgh South
Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh South is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, first used in the general election of 1885. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
as well as Solicitor General for Scotland
Solicitor General for Scotland
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
and later a Senator of the College of Justice
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
.
He was born in Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, the fourth son of John Dewar, Sr.
John Dewar, Sr.
John Dewar was a Scottish businessman who founded John Dewar & Sons, Scotch whisky distillery in 1846.In 1845 he married Jane Gow with whom he had the following sons:# John # James Gow...
the distiller and founder of John Dewar & Sons. His brothers, Thomas
Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar
Thomas Robert "Tommy" Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar was a Scottish whisky distiller who, along with his brother John Dewar, built their family label, Dewar's, into an international success...
and John
John Dewar, 1st Baron Forteviot
John Alexander Dewar, 1st Baron Forteviot was a Scottish businessman, elder son of the founder of Dewar's Scotch Whisky and a Liberal Member of Parliament.-Family:...
, would run the family business. He married Lettie Dalrymple in 1892, with whom he would have one daughter.
He was educated at Perth Academy
Perth Academy
Perth Academy is a state comprehensive secondary school in the Scottish town of Perth. It was founded in 1760. The standard week at Perth Academy for students is Monday to Friday from 8.55am to 3.30pm, although this may differ for students taking part in any extra curricula activities. The...
and then at Edinburgh University, graduating in 1882. He was admitted to the Scottish Bar
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in 1885, and in 1892 was appointed the Advocate-Depute for the Glasgow circuit, a minor governmental post, which he held until 1895 when the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
came into power.
In an 1899 by-election he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South
Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh South is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, first used in the general election of 1885. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, defeating Major-General A.G. Wauchope
Andrew Gilbert Wauchope
Major-General Andrew Gilbert Wauchope was a British Army officer, killed commanding a brigade at the Battle of Magersfontein in the South African War....
, but was defeated himself in the 1900 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
by Sir Andrew Agnew
Sir Andrew Agnew, 9th Baronet
Sir Andrew Noel Agnew, 9th Baronet JP was the son of Sir Andrew Agnew, 8th Baronet and Lady Mary Arabella Louisa Noel.-Succession:...
. He stood again in the 1906 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, where he won the seat. He had been made King's Counsel in 1904, and served as Solicitor General for Scotland
Solicitor General for Scotland
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
from 1909-1910.
He was re-elected in the January 1910 general election, but in April was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
in 1910, and resigned from the Commons. He took the judicial title of Lord Dewar, and served in the post until his death.