Arthur Dewar, Lord Dewar

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Arthur Dewar
Arthur Dewar
Senator of the College of Justice
In office
April 1910 – June 1917
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South
In office
1906 – April 1910
Solicitor General for Scotland
In office
February 1909 – 1910
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South
In office
1899–1900
Personal details
Born(1860-03-14)14 March 1860
Perth, Scotland
Died14 June 1917(1917-06-14) (aged 57)
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Letitia Bell
(m. 1892)
Children2
Parent
RelativesThomas Dewar (brother)
John Dewar (brother)
EducationUniversity of Edinburgh

Arthur Dewar, Lord Dewar (14 March 1860 – 14 June 1917) was a British 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.

Life[edit]

The grave of Arthur Dewar, Lord Dewar, Dean Cemetery

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, ran 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]

8 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh

He lived 8 Drumsheugh Gardens in Edinburgh's West End[4] in 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.[citation needed]

Family[edit]

He married Letitia ("Lettie") Dalrymple Bell, daughter of Robert Bell of Clifton Hall, in 1892, with whom he had one son and one daughter.[6]

His son, Ian Dalrymple Dewar, was killed during the First World War.[citation needed]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d 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[edit]

External links[edit]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South
18991900
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South
1906April 1910
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Solicitor General for Scotland
1909–1910
Succeeded by