Harald Leslie, Lord Birsay
Encyclopedia
Harald Leslie, Lord Birsay KT
, CBE
, (MBE (mil.), TD
, QC
, DL
(8 May 1905 - 27 November 1982) was a Scottish lawyer and judge, and Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
.
, Berwickshire High School
, and the High School of Glasgow
. He studied at the University of Glasgow
, first studying Arts (MA
, 1927) and then at the University's School of Law
(LLB
, 1930). He was admitted as a solicitor in 1930 and to the Faculty of Advocates
in 1937. He had been a member of the Officers' Training Corps while at school and university, and during the Second World War
served in the Royal Scots, being awarded a military MBE
and mentioned in despatches.
, becoming an Advocate Depute in 1947. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1949, and in 1951 returned to private practice. In 1956, he was appointed Sheriff of Roxburgh, Berwick and Selkirk, and in 1961 as Sheriff of Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney and Zetland. In 1965, he was appointed Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
, taking the judicial title, Lord Birsay. He was appointed a Knight of the Thistle
, Scotland's highest order of chivalry, in 1973. He retired in 1978, and was succeeded by Lord Elliott
.
and Birsay
, Orkney, and was a member of the Caledonian Club
and the Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh. He served in 1965 and 1966 as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
. Lord Birsay died on 27 November 1982, aged seventy-seven.
Order of the Thistle
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, (MBE (mil.), TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(8 May 1905 - 27 November 1982) was a Scottish lawyer and judge, and Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
Scottish Land Court
The Scottish Land Court is a Scottish court of law based in Edinburgh with subject-matter jurisdiction for disputes between landlords and tenants relating to agricultural tenancies and matters related to crofts and crofters. The Chairman of the Scottish Land Court is ranked as a Senator of the...
.
Early life
Leslie was born on 8 May 1905, the son of Robert Leslie, Master Mariner, and educated at Earlston SchoolEarlston High School
Earlston High School is a Scottish secondary school situated in Earlston, Scottish Borders. It serves Earlston, as well as the surrounding area...
, Berwickshire High School
Berwickshire High School
Berwickshire High School is a six year comprehensive school located west of the town of Duns, Scotland.-History:It was first opened in 1896, by Walter John Mabbott, who was the first Rector of the school...
, and the High School of Glasgow
High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, it is the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar...
. He studied at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, first studying Arts (MA
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
, 1927) and then at the University's School of Law
University of Glasgow School of Law
The School of Law at the University of Glasgow provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Law, and awards the degrees of Bachelor of Laws , Master of Laws , Master of Science , Master of Research and Doctor of Philosophy , the degree of Doctor of Laws...
(LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
, 1930). He was admitted as a solicitor in 1930 and to the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in 1937. He had been a member of the Officers' Training Corps while at school and university, and during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
served in the Royal Scots, being awarded a military MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
and mentioned in despatches.
Legal career
Following the War, Leslie was appointed Standing Counsel to the Department of AgricultureMinistry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a United Kingdom government department created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 and at that time called the Board of Agriculture, and then from 1903 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from 1919 the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries...
, becoming an Advocate Depute in 1947. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1949, and in 1951 returned to private practice. In 1956, he was appointed Sheriff of Roxburgh, Berwick and Selkirk, and in 1961 as Sheriff of Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney and Zetland. In 1965, he was appointed Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
Scottish Land Court
The Scottish Land Court is a Scottish court of law based in Edinburgh with subject-matter jurisdiction for disputes between landlords and tenants relating to agricultural tenancies and matters related to crofts and crofters. The Chairman of the Scottish Land Court is ranked as a Senator of the...
, taking the judicial title, Lord Birsay. He was appointed a Knight of the Thistle
Order of the Thistle
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order...
, Scotland's highest order of chivalry, in 1973. He retired in 1978, and was succeeded by Lord Elliott
Walter Elliott, Lord Elliott
Archibald Elliott, Lord Elliott MC was a Scottish lawyer and judge. In 1971, he became the first President of the newly established Lands Tribunal for Scotland, and in 1978 took on the additional office of Chairman of the Scottish Land Court...
.
Personal life
Leslie married Robina Margaret Marwick, a physician, in 1945, with whom he had a son and daughter. He maintained homes in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Birsay
Birsay
Birsay is a parish in the north west corner of The Mainland of Orkney, Scotland. Almost all the land in the parish is devoted to agriculture: chiefly grassland used to rear beef cattle...
, Orkney, and was a member of the Caledonian Club
Caledonian Club
The Caledonian Club is a members' club in central London, for Scots in London and their guests.- History :The club was founded in 1891 as a proprietary club, based in Chares II street, London SW1...
and the Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh. He served in 1965 and 1966 as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the British Sovereign's personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland , reflecting the Church's role as the national church of Scotland, and the Sovereign's role as protector and member of...
. Lord Birsay died on 27 November 1982, aged seventy-seven.