John McLaren (politician)
Encyclopedia
John McLaren Lord McLaren, was a Scottish Liberal
politician and judge.
The son of Duncan McLaren
, a former Provost of Edinburgh and Member of Parliament, he was born in Edinburgh. He attended Edinburgh University before being admitted to the Scottish bar
in 1856. He held the office of Sheriff of Chancery in Scotland 1869-1880. He reorganised the Scottish Liberals
and arranged Gladstone
's Midlothian campaign
of 1879-1880.
McLaren wrote a number of books on legal topics, including 'Law of Wills and Succession.
He was elected Member of Parliament
for Wigtown Burghs in April 1880 and appointed Lord Advocate
, losing his seat on seeking re-election on 20 May 1880. He failed to be elected at Berwick-upon-Tweed
on 21 July 1880, but was returned for Edinburgh
on 28 January 1881. McLaren's father Duncan McLaren
had resigned as MP for Edinburgh, which produced the vacancy to be filled. McLaren continued to sit for Edinburgh until he was appointed as a judge, later in the year.
Under pressure from Gladstone and Sir William Harcourt, he accepted appointment to the bench
in 1881 with the judicial title Lord McLaren. He was an eminently successful judge, and edited works on Scots law. He was also a student of astronomy and mathematics, and was awarded honorary degrees from Edinburgh University, the University of Glasgow
and the University of Aberdeen
.
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...
politician and judge.
The son of Duncan McLaren
Duncan McLaren
Duncan McLaren was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Edinburgh.Born in Renton, Scotland, Duncan McLaren was the youngest of ten children of John McLaren and Catherine McLellan. Apart from two years of schooling, was self taught. After school, he was apprenticed to a merchant in Dunbar...
, a former Provost of Edinburgh and Member of Parliament, he was born in Edinburgh. He attended Edinburgh University before being 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 1856. He held the office of Sheriff of Chancery in Scotland 1869-1880. He reorganised the Scottish Liberals
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...
and arranged Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
's Midlothian campaign
Midlothian campaign
The Midlothian campaign was a series of foreign policy speeches given by William Ewart Gladstone. It is often cited as the first modern political campaign. It also set the stage for Gladstone's comeback as a politician...
of 1879-1880.
McLaren wrote a number of books on legal topics, including 'Law of Wills and Succession.
He was elected 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 Wigtown Burghs in April 1880 and appointed Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
, losing his seat on seeking re-election on 20 May 1880. He failed to be elected at Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
on 21 July 1880, but was returned for Edinburgh
Edinburgh (UK Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1885. Originally a single member constituency, representation was increased to two members in 1832...
on 28 January 1881. McLaren's father Duncan McLaren
Duncan McLaren
Duncan McLaren was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Edinburgh.Born in Renton, Scotland, Duncan McLaren was the youngest of ten children of John McLaren and Catherine McLellan. Apart from two years of schooling, was self taught. After school, he was apprenticed to a merchant in Dunbar...
had resigned as MP for Edinburgh, which produced the vacancy to be filled. McLaren continued to sit for Edinburgh until he was appointed as a judge, later in the year.
Under pressure from Gladstone and Sir William Harcourt, he accepted appointment to the bench
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 1881 with the judicial title Lord McLaren. He was an eminently successful judge, and edited works on Scots law. He was also a student of astronomy and mathematics, and was awarded honorary degrees from Edinburgh University, the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and 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...
.