Arthur Dewar, Lord Dewar

Arthur Dewar, Lord Dewar KC (14 March 1860 – 14 June 1917) was a Scottish politician and judge, who served as a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Edinburgh South as well as Solicitor General for Scotland and later a Senator of the College of Justice.

Arthur Dewar
8 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh
The grave of Arthur Dewar, Lord Dewar, Dean Cemetery

Life

He was born in Perth, the fourth son of John Dewar, Sr. the distiller and founder of John Dewar & Sons. His brothers, Thomas and John, would run the family business.[1]

He was educated at Perth Academy and then at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1882. He was admitted to the Scottish Bar in 1885, and in 1892 was appointed the Advocate-Depute for the Glasgow circuit, a minor governmental post, which he held until 1895 when the Conservative Party came into power.[1]

In an 1899 by-election he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South, defeating Major-General A.G. Wauchope, but was defeated himself in the 1900 general election by Sir Andrew Agnew. He stood again in the 1906 general election, where he won the seat. He had been made King's Counsel in 1904, and served as Solicitor General for Scotland from February 1909 – 1910.[2][1]

He was re-elected in the January 1910 general election, but resigned from the Commons in April that year when he was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice,[3] replacing the deceased McLaren. He took the judicial title of Lord Dewar, and served in the post until his death.[1]

He lived 8 Drumsheugh Gardens in Edinburgh's West End[4] an impressive Victorian townhouse by the Edinburgh architect John Lessels.[5]

He is buried in the 20th century extension to Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh, against the northmost wall.

Family

He married Letitia ("Lettie") Dalrymple in 1892, with whom he would have one son and one daughter.[6]

His son, Ian Dalrymple Dewar, was killed during the First World War.

Notes

  1. Obituary in The Times
  2. "No. 12118". The Edinburgh Gazette. 19 February 1909. p. 173.
  3. "No. 12242". The Edinburgh Gazette. 26 April 1910. p. 444.
  4. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1911-12
  5. Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker
  6. Who Was Who

References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Robert Cox
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South
18991900
Succeeded by
Andrew Noel Agnew
Preceded by
Andrew Noel Agnew
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South
1906April 1910
Succeeded by
Charles Henry Lyell
Legal offices
Preceded by
Alexander Ure
Solicitor General for Scotland
1909–1910
Succeeded by
William Hunter
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