Duncan McNeill, 1st Baron Colonsay

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File:Duncan McNeill, 1st Baron Colonsay.jpg
Duncan McNeill c. 1844
File:Lord Colonsay Vanity Fair 13 September 1873.jpg
"Scotch Law"
Lord Colonsay as caricatured by Spy (Leslie Ward) in Vanity Fair, September 1873
File:The grave of Duncan McNeill, Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh.jpg
The grave of Duncan McNeill, Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh

Duncan McNeill, 1st Baron Colonsay FRSE (20 August 1793 – 31 January 1874) was a Scottish advocate, judge and Tory politician. He was Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session between 1852 and 1867.

His younger brother was the physician and diplomat Sir John McNeill.[1]

Background and education

McNeill was born at Oronsay, the son of John McNeill (1767–1846), laird of Colonsay and Oronsay, and his wife Hester (née McNeill).[2] Educated at St Andrew's University where he graduated MD, and Edinburgh University where he read law (LLD).

He served his apprenticeship under Michael Linning WS, and became a members of the Faculty of Advocates in 1816. He was the presumptive father of philosopher Edmund Montgomery.[3]

Political, legal and judicial career

MacNeill was appointed Sheriff of Perthshire in 1824. He served under Sir Robert Peel as Solicitor General for Scotland from 1834 to 1835 and again from 1841 to 1842 and as Lord Advocate from 1842 to 1846.[4] From 1843 to 1851 he sat as Member of Parliament for Argyllshire.[5] In 1851 he was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice and an Ordinary Lord of Session as Lord Colonsay and Oronsay. He was Lord Justice General and Lord President of the Court of Session from 1852 to 1867, and was raised to the peerage as Baron Colonsay, of Colonsay and Oronsay in the County of Argyll, on 26 February 1867.[6][7][8]

Personal life

McNeill was unmarried, but lived in a very large Georgian townhouse: 73 Great King Street in Edinburgh's Second New Town.[9]

He was a member of the Highland Society of Edinburgh (1833).

Lord Colonsay died at Pau, France, on 31 January 1874, aged 80, when the title became extinct.[10]

He was interred at Warriston Cemetery in Edinburgh, south of the upper east-west path towards the East Gate. His bronze coat of arms has been stolen from the monument.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ leighrayment.com House of Commons: Andover to Armagh South
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 23222. p. 951. 22 February 1867.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directories 1857 onwards
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Argyllshire
1843–1851		 Succeeded by
Sir Archibald Islay Campbell, Bt.
Legal offices
Preceded by Solicitor General for Scotland
1834–1835		 Succeeded by
John Cunninghame
Preceded by Solicitor General for Scotland
1841–1842		 Succeeded by
Adam Anderson
Preceded by Lord Advocate
1842–1846		 Succeeded by
Andrew Rutherfurd
Preceded by Lord Justice General
1852–1867		 Succeeded by
Lord Glencorse
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron Colonsay
1867–1874		 Extinct
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