William Baillie, Lord Polkemmet facts for kids
William Baillie, Lord Polkemmet (born 1736 – died 14 March 1816) was an important Scottish lawyer and judge. He held several key positions in the legal system of Scotland during his lifetime.
William Baillie's Early Life and Career
William Baillie was the oldest son of Thomas Baillie and Isabel Walker. His father was a "Writer to the Signet," which was a type of lawyer in Scotland.
In 1758, William Baillie became an advocate. An advocate is a lawyer who speaks for people in court. Later, he was chosen to be the Sheriff of Linlithgow. He worked as a sheriff from 1772 to 1793. A sheriff in Scotland is a judge who handles many different types of legal cases.
Becoming Lord Polkemmet
On November 14, 1793, William Baillie received a very important role. He became a Senator of the College of Justice. This is a high-ranking judge in Scotland's main court. When he got this job, he also received the special title Lord Polkemmet.
He continued to serve as Lord Polkemmet until he retired in 1811. After he retired, another judge named Robert Craigie, Lord Craigie took his place. William Baillie lived in Edinburgh at 62 George Street. He passed away on March 14, 1816.
William Baillie's Family Life
William Baillie married twice during his life. In 1768, he married Margaret Culquhoun. She was the daughter of Sir James Culquhoun of Luss.
Later, in 1803, he married again. His second wife was Janet Sinclair. She was the sister of Sir John Sinclair and also a cousin to his first wife. The Baillie baronets, a noble family line, are descended from Lord Polkemmet.
