James Dundas, Lord Arniston facts for kids

Sir James Dundas, Lord Arniston (1620–1679) was a Scottish politician and judge. He was a member of the Scottish Parliament and later became a judge. He is remembered for standing up for his beliefs.

Early Life and Education

James Dundas was born in 1620. His father was also named Sir James Dundas of Arniston. His father was a governor of Berwick under King James I. James Dundas studied at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Early Political Steps

In 1639, James Dundas signed the national covenant. This was an important document in Scottish history. It showed his support for the Presbyterian Church. In 1640, he became an elder in the church. A year later, in 1641, King Charles I knighted him. This meant he received the title "Sir."

Serving in Parliament

Sir James Dundas represented Edinburgh in the Scottish Parliament in 1648. He worked on several important committees. These committees dealt with war, money, and religious matters.

He was part of a group that looked into financial problems. He also joined a "secret" committee. This group worked to protect Scotland from certain military groups. He was also part of the "committee of estates." This committee held great power when Parliament was not meeting.

Supporting the Covenants

Sir James also signed the solemn league and covenant in 1650. This was another important agreement. It aimed to protect the Presbyterian religion in Scotland and England. He seemed to sign it with some hesitation. After this, there is little record of his life for a few years.

He reappeared in public life in 1661. He was part of a group that helped organize churches. He also helped raise money for the king.

Becoming a Judge

In 1662, Sir James Dundas was chosen to be a judge. He became a Lord of session, taking the title Lord Arniston. Even though he wasn't a trained lawyer, he showed he knew enough about law. He joined the College of Justice on June 4, 1662.

Standing Up for His Beliefs

His time as a judge was short. In 1663, a new law was passed. It said that all public officials had to sign a special declaration. This declaration stated that people must always obey the king. It also rejected the solemn league and covenant.

Sir James Dundas could not sign this declaration. He believed it went against his conscience. He offered to resign from his judge position. The king and other officials tried to make him change his mind. They even offered him a way to sign it privately.

But Sir James refused. He said, "If my subscription is to be public, I cannot be satisfied that the salvo should be latent." This meant he wanted his beliefs to be known publicly. He would not sign something he disagreed with, even if he could make a private exception. Because of this, he lost his position as a judge in 1665.

Later Life and Family

Sir James Dundas died in October 1679 at Arniston.

He was married three times.

• First, in 1641, he married Marion Boyd. They had three daughters and a son named Robert. Robert also became a judge later.
• Second, he married Janet Hepburn. They had three sons.
• Third, in 1666, he married Helen Skene.