John Clerk, Lord Eldin
Encyclopedia
John Clerk, Lord Eldin was a Scottish judge.
, and his wife, Susannah Adam, the sister of John Adam
and Robert Adam
. He was born in April 1757. Though originally intended for the Indian Civil Service, he was apprenticed to a writer to the signet. After serving his articles he practised for a year or two as an accountant, and eventually was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates
on 3 December 1785.
He had an extensive practice at the bar. A keen Whig, on 11 March 1806 he was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland
in the Grenville administration, an office which he held during the year that the ministry lasted. His practice at the bar had been for some time falling off, and his health had already begun to fail, when, on 10 November 1823, he was appointed an ordinary Lord of Session in place of William Bannatyne, Lord Bannatyne
. Assuming the title of Lord Eldin, he took his seat on the bench 22 November; but his health was poor. After five years of judicial work he resigned in 1828, and was succeeded by Lord Fullerton.
Clerk died unmarried at his house in Picardy Place, Edinburgh, on 30 May 1832. His collection of pictures and prints was sold by auction at his house in March 1833; a serious accident occurred, the floor giving way.
Life
He was the eldest son of John Clerk of EldinJohn Clerk of Eldin
John Clerk of Eldin FRSE FSAScot was a Scottish merchant, naval author, artist, geologist and landowner. The 7th son of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, Bt, Clerk of Eldin was a figure in the Scottish Enlightenment, best remembered for his influential writings on naval tactics in the Age of Sail.A...
, and his wife, Susannah Adam, the sister of John Adam
John Adam (architect)
John Adam was a Scottish architect. Born in Linktown of Abbotshall, now part of Kirkcaldy, Fife, he was the eldest son of architect and entrepreneur William Adam. His younger brothers Robert and James Adam also became architects.The Adam family moved to Edinburgh in 1728, as William Adam's career...
and Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
. He was born in April 1757. Though originally intended for the Indian Civil Service, he was apprenticed to a writer to the signet. After serving his articles he practised for a year or two as an accountant, and eventually was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates
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...
on 3 December 1785.
He had an extensive practice at the bar. A keen Whig, on 11 March 1806 he was appointed 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...
in the Grenville administration, an office which he held during the year that the ministry lasted. His practice at the bar had been for some time falling off, and his health had already begun to fail, when, on 10 November 1823, he was appointed an ordinary Lord of Session in place of William Bannatyne, Lord Bannatyne
William Bannatyne, Lord Bannatyne
Sir William Macleod Bannatyne was a distinguished Scottish lawyer and judge.-Biography:The son of Mr. Roderick Macleod, writer to the signet and Isabel , daughter of Hector Bannatyne of Kames. He received a liberal education, and was admitted advocate, January 22, 1765...
. Assuming the title of Lord Eldin, he took his seat on the bench 22 November; but his health was poor. After five years of judicial work he resigned in 1828, and was succeeded by Lord Fullerton.
Clerk died unmarried at his house in Picardy Place, Edinburgh, on 30 May 1832. His collection of pictures and prints was sold by auction at his house in March 1833; a serious accident occurred, the floor giving way.