lord lord june scottish advocate second large estate law practice sited opposite edinburgh dean faculty advocates elevated bench lord described greatest lawyers country time judge past prime impact role best known defence rebels standing trial inherited estate death father 1st purchased additional lands expanded estate known north staunch private built estate established small village arranged plantations douglas near mansion house ancestry early life born shortly father named james purchased estate father previously mother married sister 5th lord british army officer governor quebec sons eldest james politician patrick invented rifle breech loading weapon youngest george lieutenant governor daughters ann elizabeth jane memoirs described having ruined man son interprets mean lost great deal money investing expansive lands generated sufficient revenue continue payments debts situation later fully financial son lord career studied studied law completing education member return edinburgh early appointed vice dean faculty advocates january dean elevated lord president june earl successfully petitioned allow promoted fill vacant position judge sitting senator june entitled addressed lord law practice point based substantial seven storey house purchased high street edinburgh opposite law practice occupied upper floors building shops lower level legal services great demand able charge twice fees associates law practice influential clients including lord sons lord advocates acting case raised lord claiming estates eventually compromise reached retained gained monetary sum instead negotiations taken hours legal year period case proved profitable records include soldier letter indicates likely willing offer refuge participated rebels captured scotland taken stand trial castle fellow advocate argued defence prosecutors showed little mercy calling rebels executed hanging prosecution assumed dressed guilty servants dress appear defendants called stand testify whereabouts servants proved despite dress defendants taken rebellion found guilty trick succeeded accused acquitted including papers contain details accompanying lord justice end april cases heard trial servant accused murdering servant case gentleman rank brother servants accused instances escalated murder highway robbery gang caught remained outlaw lord widely admired fellow lawyer biographer declared greatest scottish lawyers endorsed remarked small number found satisfying hear speak practised law edinburgh height scottish enlightenment member lord described good somewhat awkward manner small stature voice poor kind sympathetic odds colleagues bench serving time lord reputation handing severe sentences viewed desire fair reach compromise stood good advocate judge characteristics drew criticism contemporaries lord critical maintaining want hanged writing local historian speculated hard life travelling scotland took toll leading rapid decline health ability years age appointment judge likely old effective inherited expansive estate death father second expanded estate continued work developed largest lavish estates scotland estate described referred north north village established mile north mansion house lord paid add land estate land crown subsequently purchased instigated final pardoned returned favour suffered financial difficulties bought land auction delight friends present displayed little interest property sold lord negotiations taken place conclude transaction earl want details publicly known fearing friends land adjacent property incorporated seat acres km2 predominantly woods land addition extensive property largest estate area stretching acres km2 course handled earl complex legal requirements lengthy period purchase land led ill feeling dealing landowners regained popularity area subsequently spent time estate small built estate large plain building accommodate house initially coaching inn construction instruction minister douglas planted near seed sent canada brother law general death legacy lord suffered poor health later years resigned judiciary correspondence brothers law lord general murray shortly died describes manner lost senses death june buried vault purchased years previously edinburgh lord succeeded eldest son james
James Ferguson, Lord Pitfour