John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall facts for kids
Sir John Lauder of Fountainhall, 2nd Baronet, Lord Fountainhall (born 1646 – died 1722) was a very important Scottish law expert. People still look at his legal writings today. He was given the title of Knight in 1680.
A street in Edinburgh, called Fountainhall Close on the Royal Mile, is named after him. This was where his home in Edinburgh was located.
Contents
A Look at His Life
Sir John Lauder was born in Edinburgh. He was the oldest son of Sir John Lauder, 1st Baronet.
Early Life and Learning
He went to the High School and the University of Edinburgh. He earned his Master's degree in 1664. After that, he traveled around Europe. He lived in places like Poitiers and Paris in France. He also visited Brussels and Antwerp. He studied law at Leiden University in Holland in 1666.
Becoming a Lawyer and Judge
Sir John became a lawyer, known as an Advocate, in 1668. He later became a judge in 1689. He was called a Lord Ordinary in the Court of Session, which is a high court in Scotland. His title became Lord Fountainhall.
He was also appointed a Lord of Justiciary in 1690. This meant he was a judge in criminal cases. He later gave up this role after Scotland and England joined together. He had actually been against this union.
His Home in Edinburgh
Lord Fountainhall lived in buildings on the Lawnmarket. This is the upper part of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. These buildings were later replaced by the James Court buildings.
Turning Down a Big Job
In 1692, Sir John was offered a very important job. He was asked to be the Lord Advocate. This person is like the chief lawyer for the government. However, he said no. The condition was that he could not prosecute people involved in the Glencoe Massacre. He believed everyone should be treated fairly by the law. Another famous lawyer, Sir George Mackenzie, also refused this condition.
Political Roles
Sir John was also active in local government. He was a Justice of the Peace for Haddingtonshire in 1683. He was also a Burgess of Edinburgh. This meant he was a citizen with special rights.
He served as a representative for Haddingtonshire in the Scottish Parliament. He was a Member of Parliament from 1685 to 1707. During this time, he spoke many times against the union of Scotland and England.
His Important Writings
Lord Fountainhall left behind many legal papers and opinions. These include records of court cases from 1678 to 1712. They also mention events from the Privy Council of Scotland and other courts. These writings are full of interesting stories and his own clever thoughts. Lawyers still use them today to understand old laws and cases.
Sir John Lauder passed away in Edinburgh in 1722. He was buried in the Lauder family vault at Greyfriars Kirk. His son, Sir John Lauder, 3rd Baronet, took over his title.
His Family Life
Sir John Lauder was married two times.
- His first marriage was in 1669 to Janet. She was the daughter of Sir Andrew Ramsay, Lord Abbotshall. He was a important leader in Edinburgh and a judge. Sir John and Janet had six sons and four daughters. Two of their sons, Andrew and David, also became lawyers.
- His second marriage was in 1687 to Marion. She was the daughter of Reverend John Anderson. They had three sons and three daughters.
His great-grandson was a person named Gilbert Innes of Stow.
