Alexander Irving, Lord Newton

Prof Alexander Irving, Lord Newton FRSE (1766–1832) was a Scottish judge who served as professor of civil law at Edinburgh University from 1800 to 1826.[1] He was a Senator of the College of Justice.

Life

He was born on 12 October 1766, the son of George Irving of Newton, by Elvanfoot (South Lanarkshire)[2][3] and his wife, Mary Chancellor.[4] The Irvings of Newton were a cadet branch of the Scottish family the Irvines of Drum.[5]

He was educated at Edinburgh High School 1773 to 1777 and then studied law at Edinburgh University. He was created an advocate in 1788.[6] He became a professor of civil law at Edinburgh University in 1800 and in the same year took over as manager of the Scots Mining Company, then based at Leadhills. In the final six years of his life he left the university to concentrate on his practical legal skills, becoming a Senator of the College of Justice (a High Court judge).[7] At this time he was living at 5 Buccleuch Place, a large flat in Edinburgh’s South Side.[8]

In 1804 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were John Playfair, Andrew Coventry, and Thomas Charles Hope. He served as president of the Society’s Physical branch 1823 to 1828 and as their vice president 1828 to 1832.[9]

In December 1826 he was created a Senator of the College of Justice and given the title of Lord Newton.

He was addicted to card playing and was a noted drunkard.[10]

He died following a painful operation on kidney stones after which he became infected, dying on 3 March 1832 at Powrie[11] (some records wrongly state 23 March, adding ten days to Henry Cockburn’s written record of 13 March of Irving’s death rather than subtracting them[12]).

Family

In 1814 he married Bethenia Irving (died 1855). Their only son was George Vere Irving FSA (1815–1869).[13]

References
  1. "University of Glasgow :: Manuscripts Catalogue :: Alexander Irving Lord Newton". special.lib.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. "Buildings At Risk register for Scotland - Newton House stables". Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  3. "Groom's Vision of Britain - Newton House, Elvanfoot". Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  4. "Alexander Irving (b. - 1832) - Genealogy". geni.com. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  5. "Clan Irving". clanirving.com. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  6. "Alexander Irving (1766-1832) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree". wikitree.com. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  7. Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783 – 2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X.
  8. Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1804-5
  9. Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783 – 2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X.
  10. Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol III p.188
  11. The Journal of Henry Cockburn 13 March 1832
  12. "www.lordbyron.org/persRec.php?&selectPerson=AlIrvin1832". lordbyron.org. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  13. "Irving, George Vere (DNB00) - Wikisource, the free online library". en.wikisource.org. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
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