David Anderson, Lord St Vigeans

The grave of David Anderson, Warriston Cemetery

Anderson was born on 26 October 1862.[1] He was the son of Dr Joseph Anderson (1832–1916), an antiquarian who later served as keeper of the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland from 1870 to 1913.[1][2][3] His mother was Jessie Dempster.[4]

Anderson was called to the Scottish bar in 1891.[1] He was appointed as Sheriff of Dumfries and Galloway in March 1913,[5] and in June 1913 he became a King's Counsel.[1][6] In August 1917, he became Sheriff of Renfrew and Bute.[7]

In May 1918 he relinquished the post as sheriff to become Chairman of the Scottish Land Court, taking the judicial title of Lord St Vigeans.[1] The title was derived from the ancient village of St Vigeans in Forfarshire, where his father had been educated.[8] He succeeded the deceased Lord Kennedy,[9] having twice served as temporary Chairman during periods of Kennedy's absence, in July 1914[10] and December 1915.[11]

After 16 years as Chairman, Anderson submitted his resignation from the Land Court in early October 1934,[12] and retired from the bench on 1 November 1934. He was succeeded by Robert Macgregor Mitchell.[13][14]

In June 1935 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of Law by the University of Edinburgh.[15]

In 1898 Kennedy married Emma Millar Robertson, daughter of James Robertson of Edinburgh. They had one son, James, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1922.[1][3]

Anderson died in Edinburgh on 1 June 1948, aged 85.[1]

He is buried with his parents amongst the trees in the section north of the vaults in Warriston Cemetery.[3]