John Cameron, Lord Cameron facts for kids
John Cameron, Lord Cameron (born February 8, 1900 – died May 30, 1996) was an important Scottish judge. He also led the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a famous group for scientists and thinkers, from 1973 to 1976.
A Life of Service and Law
John Cameron was born in London. However, his family was from Edinburgh, Scotland, where his father was a lawyer. The family lived in a historic part of Edinburgh.
He went to Edinburgh Academy school from 1910 to 1917. After school, he started studying law at the University of Edinburgh. His studies were paused when he joined the navy during the First World War. He served as a midshipman, a junior officer, in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
After the war, he finished his law studies. In 1924, he became an advocate, which is a type of lawyer who can speak in higher courts. By 1936, he became a King's Counsel, a very senior lawyer.
When the Second World War began, he joined the navy again. This time, he was a lieutenant-commander. He took part in two very important events: the evacuation at Dunkirk and the D-Day landings. These were huge operations to save soldiers and invade Europe during the war.
In 1945, he became the Sheriff of Inverness. This is like being a judge for a specific area. He held this job until 1948. Then, he returned to Edinburgh to become the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates. This is a top position for lawyers in Scotland.
In 1954, he was knighted by the Queen. This means he received the title "Sir". A year later, in 1955, he became a Senator of the College of Justice. This is a very high-ranking judge in Scotland's top courts. Because of this role, he was known as "Lord Cameron".
In 1969, Lord Cameron was asked to lead a special group. This group looked into the reasons for violence and problems in Northern Ireland. Their report, called the "Cameron Report," was published later that year. It helped people understand what was happening.
Lord Cameron continued to be a judge until 1985. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1949. He later became their Vice-President and then their President. From 1955 to 1968, he was also the leader of the Cockburn Association. This group works to protect historic buildings and places in Edinburgh.
For his service in the navy, Lord Cameron received the Distinguished Service Cross. In 1978, he was also made a Knight of the Order of the Thistle. This is a very special honour in Scotland.
Lord Cameron passed away in Edinburgh on May 30, 1996, at the age of 96.
Family Life
Lord Cameron was married twice. His first marriage was in 1927 to Eileen Dorothea Burrell. After she passed away in 1943, he married Iris Shepherd in 1944.
His son, Kenneth Cameron, also became a very important lawyer. He served as the Lord Advocate for Scotland from 1984 to 1989. His daughter, Katharine Lindsay Cameron, married another judge, David Bruce Weir, Lord Weir.
