Sir Alexander Falconer, 1st Lord Falconer of Halkerton facts for kids

Sir Alexander Falconer, 1st Lord Falconer of Halkerton (1595–1671), was an important Scottish judge. He played a big role in the government and law during a time of change in Scotland.

Life as a Scottish Judge

Sir Alexander Falconer was born in 1595. He was the oldest son of Sir Alexander Falconer of Halkertoun and Agnes Carnegie.

Becoming a Judge

In 1639, Sir Alexander became a judge in a high court, known as a Lord of Session. He took over this important job from Lord Woodhall. King Charles I was very impressed with Sir Alexander's skills and honesty. Because of this, the King gave him a special title and a yearly payment of £200. This showed how much the King trusted him to be fair and good at his job.

Working with King and Parliament

In 1641, both King Charles I and the Scottish Parliament chose Sir Alexander to continue as a judge. This was a big deal because it meant he would serve for life, unless he made a serious mistake.

He also represented his home area, Kincardineshire, in important meetings. These meetings were called 'conventions' and 'parliaments' and took place between 1643 and 1647. During this time, he helped with many different tasks for the government:

• He was a 'commissioner' for taxes and loans in 1643. This meant he helped manage money for the country.
• He was part of the 'committee of war' for Kincardineshire in 1643, 1644, and 1646. He also served for Forfarshire in 1648. These committees helped organize the country's defenses.
• He was a 'commissioner for the plantation of kirks' in 1644. This involved organizing churches.
• He was a 'commissioner of the exchequer' in 1645, helping with the country's finances.
• He was a member of the 'committee of estates' in 1645 and 1647, which was a powerful group that helped run the country.
• He was even a 'colonel' for Aberdeenshire in 1648, showing his role in military matters.

Becoming Lord Falconer

Because of his growing importance in the Scottish government, Sir Alexander was given a special noble title on December 20, 1646. He became "Lord Falconer of Halkerton". This title could be passed down to his male family members.

Challenges and Return to Justice

In 1649, Sir Alexander faced a challenge. He lost his position in the College of Justice (the main court) and was asked to lend money to the government. This happened because of his involvement in something called the "Engagement", which was a political agreement during a time of conflict.

However, he was still listed as a Scottish noble in 1650. He also continued to help manage supplies for Kincardineshire in 1656 and 1659.

When the King returned to power in Scotland during the English Restoration, Sir Alexander was given his judge position back in the College of Justice. He kept this job until he passed away. In 1661, he was also involved in managing taxes and visiting the University of Aberdeen. He continued to be part of Parliament as Lord Halkertoun until 1669. Sir Alexander Falconer passed away on October 1, 1671.

Family Life

Sir Alexander Falconer married a woman named Anne. She was the only daughter of John Lindsay, 9th Lord Lindsay of Byres. Together, they had one son and one daughter. Their daughter, Agnes, married George Ogilvy, 2nd Lord Banff.