Sheriff of Lanark facts for kids
The Sheriff of Lanark was a very important person in Lanarkshire, Scotland, a long time ago. Think of them as a top official whose job was to make sure everyone followed the rules and to catch criminals. They were in charge of keeping law and order and making sure justice was served.
For many years, before 1748, the job of sheriff was often passed down in families, like a family business. This was called a "hereditary" role. But after a big event called the Jacobite uprising in 1745, things changed. The government decided to replace these family sheriffs with new ones who were paid a salary. These new sheriffs were called "sheriff-deputes." They had to be qualified lawyers, known as "advocates," who were part of the Scottish Bar.
The role of the Sheriff of Lanarkshire eventually ended in 1975. It was replaced by a larger area called the sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway, which still exists today.
Contents
What Did a Sheriff of Lanark Do?
A Sheriff of Lanark was like the main legal officer for the area. They made sure that laws were followed and that people who broke them were brought to court. They had a lot of power and responsibility to keep the peace and make sure things ran smoothly in Lanarkshire.
Sheriffs Through History
Many different people held the title of Sheriff of Lanark over hundreds of years. They came from various backgrounds and served during different times in Scottish history.
Early Sheriffs
Some of the earliest sheriffs were important local figures. They helped the king manage the land and its people.
- Baldwin of Biggar (1154)
- Waldeve of Biggar (1170s)
- Hugh, son of Sir Reginald (around 1196-1200)
- William de Hertisheved (1225)
- Richard de Coulter (1226)
- Alexander Uvieth (1266)
- Nicholas de Biggar (1273-1278)
- Hugh de Dalzell (1288-1290)
- Robert de Brus (1303) - He later became a famous King of Scotland!
- Magnus de Stratherne - 1303 - Deputy (helped the main sheriff)
- Nicholas de Benhathe - 1303 - Deputy
A Famous Event
One sheriff, William Heselrig, who was from England, was in charge from 1296 to 1297. He was famously killed by William Wallace, a Scottish hero who fought for Scotland's freedom.
Later Sheriffs and Big Changes
Over time, the role of sheriff continued to be important. After the big changes in 1748, the sheriffs were no longer from the same families. Instead, they were professional lawyers.
- George Sinclair, Lord Woodhall (1747-1764?)
Sheriffs-Depute (After 1748)
These were the new, salaried sheriffs who were trained lawyers.
- Robert Sinclair (1775–1786)
- Sir William Honyman, 1st Baronet (1786–1797)
- Robert Hamilton (1797–1822)
- Archibald Alison (1834–1867)
- Henry Glassford Bell (1867–1874)
- Sir Allan Grierson Walker, QC (1963–1974)
The job of Sheriff of Lanark ended in 1975. The area became part of a bigger sheriffdom.
See also
- Historical development of Scottish sheriffdoms
