Sir James Foulis, 3rd Baronet

James Foulis, Lord Reidfurd (c. 1645–1711), was a Scottish judge and politician.

Life

Foulis was the eldest son of Sir James Foulis, Lord Colinton, whom he succeeded as third Baronet in 1688, was born about 1645. His father ' bestowed liberally' upon his education. He studied at University of Leyden, and was admitted advocate 8 June 1669. He was appointed lord of session November 1674, when he took the courtesy title of Lord Reidfurd. His father then sat on the bench as Lord Colinton.

Foulis was elected commissioner for Edinburghshire on 20 January 1685, was a supporter of the extreme measures of the government, but continued to sit after The Glorious Revolution, 'until his seat was declared vacant, 25 April 1693, because he had not taken the oath of allegiance and signed the assurance'. After the death of William III he was made colonel of the Midlothian militia, and sworn of the privy council (1703). He opposed the union.

Family

Foulis married Margaret, daughter of John Boyd, dean of guild, Edinburgh, by whom he had several children. On his death, in 1711, he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son James, with whom he is sometimes confounded—e.g. by Anderson. Foulis was engaged in a complex lawsuit with Dame Margaret Erskine, Lady Castlehaven, his stepmother, as to her interest in his father's estates. The chief papers were published, with notes by him, or compiled under his direction, and exhibit some details as to Scotch aristocratic life and customs of the period ('An Exact and Faithful relation of the Process pursued by Dame Margaret Areskine, Lady Castlehaven, against Sir James Foulis, now of Collingtoun,' Edinburgh, 1690). Among the Lauderdale MSS. are various official reports and addresses to Charles II and the Duke of Lauderdale, to which the signature of Foulis is appended.

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Foulis, James (1645?-1711)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.