Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck facts for kids
Alexander Boswell, Lord Auchinleck (1706–1782) was an important judge in the highest courts of Scotland. He was also the 8th Laird of Auchinleck, which means he owned a large estate called Auchinleck. He was the father of the famous writer and biographer James Boswell. His grandson, Sir Alexander Boswell, became a songwriter.
Early Life and Education
Alexander Boswell was born in 1706. He was the oldest son of James Boswell, who was the 7th Laird of Auchinleck.
He went to the University of Edinburgh to study. After that, he studied Civil Law at the University of Leyden in the Netherlands. In 1727, he became a member of the Faculty of Advocates. This group is made up of lawyers who can argue cases in Scotland's highest courts.
A Judge's Life
In 1748, Alexander Boswell was chosen to be the Sheriff of Wigtown. A sheriff in Scotland is a judge who handles legal cases in a specific area. He stopped being a sheriff in 1750. This was because his father passed away, and Alexander inherited the Auchinleck estate in Ayrshire.
After inheriting the estate, he built a new, grand house called Auchinleck House. It was designed in the Adam style, which was very popular at the time. In 1754, he also added a new part to Auchinleck church for the local minister, Rev. John Dun. This minister was also the family's tutor.
In 1754, Alexander Boswell became a judge in the Court of Session. This is Scotland's main civil court. The next year, he also joined the High Court of Justiciary, which handles serious criminal cases. As a judge, he used the special title Lord Auchinleck. This title came from the name of his family estate.
Lord Auchinleck is also remembered for saving an old book called the Auchinleck manuscript in 1740. A professor at the University of Aberdeen was about to destroy it. Alexander Boswell saved it and gave it to the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh. This library is now part of the National Library of Scotland.
Family and Relationships
Alexander Boswell often had disagreements with his son, James Boswell. They argued about many things. These included James's career choices, his lifestyle, how he published his books, and even his friends. They also disagreed about James's choice of wife.
In 1738, Alexander Boswell married Euphemia Erskine (1718–1766). They had several children together. Their children included James, John (1743–1798), and Thomas David (1748–1826). John joined the Army. Thomas David became a merchant, trading goods with Spain. Later, he worked for the Navy.
After Euphemia passed away in 1766, Alexander married his cousin, Elizabeth Boswell. This wedding happened on the same day in 1769 as his son James's marriage.
