David Rae, Lord Eskgrove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lord Eskgrove
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Lord Eskgrove
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| Born | 1724 |
| Died | 1804 (aged 79–80) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Judge |
Sir David Rae, known as Lord Eskgrove, was an important Scottish judge and lawyer. He was born in 1724 and passed away in 1804. He was also the 1st Baronet of Eskgrove.
Early Life and Education
David Rae was the son of Rev David Rae and Agnes Forbes. He grew up in Scotland.
He went to school in Haddington. After that, he studied law at the University of Edinburgh. This is where he learned all about how laws work.
Becoming a Lawyer and Judge
In 1751, David Rae became an advocate. This means he was a lawyer who could speak for people in court. He quickly became very busy with many cases.
He even worked on a big case that went to the House of Lords in London. This helped him meet important people like Lord Hardwicke.
David Rae was also part of a team that gathered information for a famous legal case called the Douglas case. For this, he traveled to France in 1764. For many years, he was a top lawyer in the Scottish court that handled money matters.
In 1783, he helped start the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a group for smart people who study science and other subjects.
A Career on the Bench
David Rae became a judge in 1782, joining the Court of Session. This is Scotland's highest civil court. He took the special judge name, Lord Eskgrove, from a small piece of land he owned.
In 1785, he also became a judge in the High Court of Justiciary. This court handles serious criminal cases. Lord Eskgrove was involved in many important trials during his time as a judge. These included cases about public order and other serious matters.
In 1799, he became the Lord Justice Clerk. This was a very high position in the Scottish legal system. He held this job until he passed away.
Just before he died, in 1804, he was given the title of a baronet. This is a special honor from the King or Queen.
Lord Eskgrove passed away at his home in Inveresk in October 1804. He was buried in the local churchyard. His family, including his son William, are also buried there.
Family Life
In 1761, David Rae married Margaret Stewart. They had two sons and one daughter:
- David, who became the second baronet but did not have sons.
- William (1769–1842), who was also a very important lawyer. He became the Lord Advocate of Scotland and was a Member of Parliament (MP).
- Margaret, who married Captain Thomas Phipps Howard.
