Adam Gillies, Lord Gillies

Adam Gillies, Lord Gillies (1760–1842) was a Scottish judge.

Adam Gillies, Lord Gillies by Robert Scott Moncrieff.
Lord Gillies' Edinburgh townhouse at 16 York Place
The grave of Adam Gillies, Greyfriars Kirkyard.

Life

He was born in Brechin, Forfarshire on 29 April 1766,[1] the son of Margaret (née Smith) and Robert Gillies of Little Keithock. Adam was the younger brother of historian John Gillies.[2]

Gillies was admitted an advocate on 14 July 1787.[3] From 1806, he was the sheriff-depute of Kincardineshire. From 1811 to 1842, he was a Senator of the College of Justice, based in Edinburgh. In the 1830s he is listed as living at 16 York Place in Edinburgh's New Town.[4]

In the late 18th century he was a member of the Crochallan Fencibles, a club which met at Dawney's Tavern on Anchor Close in Edinburgh.[5]

Gillies retired due to ill health in the summer of 1842. His position as Senator was filled by Alexander Wood, Lord Wood.

He died on 24 December 1842 at Leamington Spa.[2]

His body was returned to Edinburgh and he was buried in a private vault in the now sealed south-west section of Greyfriars Kirkyard known as the Covenanter's Prison. His wife Elizabeth lies with him.

Family

Gillies married Elizabeth Carnegy, daughter of Thomas Carnegy of Craigo and a Unitarian. From 1811 their nieces Margaret (1803-1887) and Mary Gillies (1800-1870), came to live with them from London. The girls were educated by Lord and Lady Gillies and introduced into Edinburgh society.[6][7] During their time in Edinburgh the two girls were introduced to Thomas Southwood Smith, the powerful new preacher to the Unitarian congregation at Skinners' Hall, Canongate, who was to play a large part in their later lives.[8]

His wife's sister Margaret married Malcolm Laing.[9]

See also

References
  1. Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland: The Grampian Society, !871
  2. Hamilton, J. A. (2004). "Gillies, Adam, Lord Gillies (1760–1842)". In Metcalfe, Eric (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10742. Retrieved 1 February 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. Kay's Originals vol.2 p.418
  4. "Post Office annual directory, 1832-1833". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  5. Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 p.235
  6. Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1890). "Gillies, Margaret" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 21. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  7. Yeldham, Charlotte. "Gillies, Margaret Southwood". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10745. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  8. Raphael, Isabel (2009). "Southwood Smith: his extraordinary life and family". Camden History Review. 33.
  9. Kay's Originals vol.2 p.419

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Gillies, Adam". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

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