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Alexander Morison, Lord Prestongrange

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Alexander Morison (or Morrison), Lord Prestongrange (1579–1631) was a 17th-century Scottish judge, Senator of the College of Justice and Lord President of the Court of Session.

Life

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Prestongrange House, East Lothian

He was the son of John Morison of Saughtonhall (1558–1615), a burgess and treasurer of the city of Edinburgh, and his wife, Katherine Preston, daughter of John Preston, Lord President of the Court of Session.[1] He was born in 1579 probably in Saughton Hall, just west of Edinburgh.

John Preston (his grandfather) had built Prestongrange, a fine mansion west of Prestonpans, and this house came to belong to Alexander through inheritance around 1600.[2]

He trained as a lawyer at the University of Edinburgh under Henry Charteris, graduating with an MA in 1598. He passed the Scottish bar as an advocate in 1604.[3][4]

In February 1626 he was elected a Senator of the College of Justice and took the title Lord Prestongrange. In 1627 he was elected Rector of the University of Edinburgh in place of Andrew Ramsay.[5]

He died at home in Preston Grange in East Lothian on 20 September 1631.[4]

Family

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In 1610 he married Eleanor Maule daughter of William Maule of Glaster. They had four daughters and one son, Alexander, who inherited the Preston Grange estate.[6][7]

Their daughter Bethia married Sir Robert Spottiswoode.[8]

His sister Catherine, married William Scott, Lord Clerkington.

Trivia

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Saughton Hall stood in 98 acres (40 ha) of ground and was demolished by Edinburgh Council in 1952 to make way for housing.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Morison of Prestongrange".
  2. ^ The Buildings of Scotland: Lothian:Prestongrange, Colin McWilliam
  3. ^ "Sir Alexander Morison from the Gazetteer for Scotland".
  4. ^ a b "Sir Alexander Morison (1579-1631) - Our History".
  5. ^ An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice
  6. ^ "Alexander Morrison, of Prestongrange, 2nd son b. 1579 d. 20 Sep 1631: MacFarlane Clan & Families Genealogy".
  7. ^ "Pedigree: Alexander (Sir; of Preston Grange) MORRISON".
  8. ^ "Sir Alexander Morrison, of Prestongrange".
  9. ^ "Edinburgh History - Recollections of Saughton".