Sir James Stewart, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Much Honoured Sir James Stewart, Bt
Portrait attributed to William Aikman
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh
In office 1713–1715
Preceded by	Sir Patrick Johnston
Succeeded by	Sir George Warrender
Personal details
Born	1681
Died	9 August 1727 (aged 46) Great Britain
Political party	Whig
Spouse	Anne Dalrymple
Relations	Sir James Stewart (grandfather) William Mure (nephew) Sir James Steuart Denham (grandson)
Children	12, including James
Parents	Sir James Stewart Agnes Traill

Sir James Stewart (sometimes spelled Steuart) was a Scottish lawyer and politician. He was born in 1681 and passed away on August 9, 1727, at the age of 46. He was known as the 1st Baronet, which is a special title of honor passed down through families.

Early Life and Family Connections

James Stewart was the first son of Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees. His mother was Agnes Traill. His grandfather, also named Sir James Stewart, was a very important person. He was the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, which is like being the mayor of the city.

James's father was a well-known lawyer and a member of the Whig political group. The Whigs were one of the main political parties in Britain at the time. In 1692, his father became the Lord Advocate, a top legal job in Scotland.

James Stewart's Career in Law and Politics

James Stewart followed in his father's footsteps. He became a lawyer, known as an advocate, in 1704. This was the start of his important career.

In May 1705, he was elected to the Parliament of Scotland. This was the law-making body for Scotland before it joined with England. On December 22, he received the special title of Baronet of Goodtrees.

Joining the Parliament of Great Britain

After 1707, Scotland and England joined together to form Great Britain. This was because of something called the Act of Union 1707. Because James Stewart and his family did not support this union at first, he was not chosen to represent Scotland in the first Parliament of Great Britain. He also did not run in the 1708 election.

In 1709, James's father was replaced as Lord Advocate. But James Stewart got a new job. He became the Solicitor-General for Scotland. This role is like being a chief legal advisor to the government, helping the Lord Advocate. He shared this job with another lawyer, Thomas Kennedy.

Working with the Lord Advocate

James's father became Lord Advocate again in 1711. However, James and Thomas Kennedy did most of the actual work. James's father passed away on May 1, 1713. James then inherited his family's lands and titles, including Goodtrees and Coltness.

Both James and Kennedy hoped to become the next Lord Advocate. To gain more power, James was elected to Parliament for Edinburgh in 1713. But the top government official, Lord Oxford, kept the Lord Advocate job open. Because of this, James turned against the government. He even spoke out against ministers in Parliament. As a result, he was fired from his Solicitor-General job in March 1714. Thomas Kennedy then became the Lord Advocate.

Return as Solicitor-General in 1714

After Queen Anne passed away and King George I took the throne, James Stewart was given his old job back. In October 1714, he became the only Solicitor-General. However, he was still not chosen to be Lord Advocate; that job went to Sir David Dalrymple.

James did not run for Parliament in the 1715 election. But he stayed active in Scottish politics. He supported the government during the Jacobite Rising of 1715. This was a rebellion by people who wanted to put a different king on the throne. James continued as Solicitor-General until 1717.

Family Life

On March 9, 1705, James Stewart married Anne Dalrymple. Her father, Lord North Berwick, was a very important judge. He was the Lord President of the Court of Session, the highest court in Scotland.

James and Anne had 12 children together. One of their sons was also named James Stewart (born 1707). This son later became a famous economist.

Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees and Coltness passed away in 1727. He left behind one son and five daughters. Six of his other children had died before him. His eldest living son, James, inherited his lands and the Baronet title.

Future Generations

Among his grandchildren was Sir James Steuart Denham (1744–1839).