Sheriff of Angus facts for kids
The Sheriff of Angus (also known as the Sheriff of Forfar) was a very important royal official in Angus, Scotland. Their main job was to make sure laws were followed and to bring people who broke the law to justice. Think of them like a chief law enforcer for the area!
What is a Sheriff?
A Sheriff was a powerful person who helped keep peace and order in their region. They were responsible for making sure everyone followed the rules and that criminals were caught. This role was vital for how the country was run a long time ago.
Sheriffs in the Past
For many years, the job of Sheriff was often passed down through families. This is called a hereditary role, meaning it stayed within the same family for generations, like a family business. This system was common before 1748.
Big Changes in 1748
Things changed a lot after a big event in Scottish history called the Jacobite uprising of 1745. This was a time when there was a rebellion against the government. After the rebellion, the government wanted more control over who held important jobs.
So, in 1748, the old system of hereditary sheriffs was stopped. Instead, new officials called sheriff-deputes were appointed. These were people who were paid for their work (salaried), and they had to be qualified lawyers, known as advocates in Scotland. This made the system more professional and less about family connections.
Many people held the role of Sheriff of Forfar over the centuries. For example, some of the early sheriffs included William Comyn (around 1195-1211) and John Fenton (in the 1260s). After 1748, some of the first sheriff-deputes included George Broun (from 1748) and John Campbell (from 1753).
The Sheriff Today
The role of the Sheriff of Angus changed again in 1934. At that time, the sheriffdoms (the areas a sheriff was responsible for) were combined. The Sheriff of Angus became part of a larger role, known as the Sheriff of Perth and Angus. This means the job covers a bigger area now.
See also
- Historical development of Scottish sheriffdoms
