James Ivory, Lord Ivory
Encyclopedia
James Ivory, Lord Ivory FRSE (1792- 1860), was a Scottish judge.
The son of Thomas Ivory, watchmaker and engraver, he was born in Dundee
on 29 February 1792. Sir James Ivory
the mathematician was his uncle.
After attending the Dundee Academy he studied for the legal profession at Edinburgh University, was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates
in 1810, and in that year was enrolled as a burgess of his native town. When, in 1819, the select committee of the House of Commons was engaged in making inquiries into the state of the Scottish burghs, Ivory was examined with reference to the municipal condition of Dundee, and strongly advocated the abolition of self-election, which was then prevalent in the town councils of Scotland, and continued in force till 1833.
Ivory was chosen advocate depute by Francis Jeffrey
, lord advocate
, in 1830; two years afterwards he was appointed sheriff
of Caithness
, and in 1833 was transferred to a similar office in Buteshire. He was Solicitor-General for Scotland under Lord Melbourne's ministry in 1839, was made a lord ordinary of session
in the following year, and sat as judge in the court of exchequer
. In 1849 he was appointed a lord of justiciary (taking the title of Lord Ivory), and served both in the Court of Session
and the High Court of Justiciary
until his retirement in October 1862. For several years before that date he was the senior judge of both courts.
Ivory died at Edinburgh on 18 Oct. 1866. He married, in 1817, a daughter of Alexander Lawrie, deputy gazette writer for Scotland. His eldest son, William Ivory, was sheriff of Inverness-shire.
As a lawyer Ivory was distinguished by the subtlety of his reasoning, his minuteness of detail, and profound erudition. He was not a fluent orator, but in the early part of his career, when legal argument was conducted in writing, be obtained a high reputation.
The son of Thomas Ivory, watchmaker and engraver, he was born in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
on 29 February 1792. Sir James Ivory
James Ivory (mathematician)
Sir James Ivory was a Scottish mathematician.Ivory was born in Dundee and attended Dundee Grammar School. In 1779 he entered the University of St Andrews, distinguishing himself especially in mathematics...
the mathematician was his uncle.
After attending the Dundee Academy he studied for the legal profession at Edinburgh University, was admitted a member of 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 1810, and in that year was enrolled as a burgess of his native town. When, in 1819, the select committee of the House of Commons was engaged in making inquiries into the state of the Scottish burghs, Ivory was examined with reference to the municipal condition of Dundee, and strongly advocated the abolition of self-election, which was then prevalent in the town councils of Scotland, and continued in force till 1833.
Ivory was chosen advocate depute by Francis Jeffrey
Francis Jeffrey
Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey was a Scottish judge and literary critic.He was born in Edinburgh, the son of a clerk in the Court of Session. After attending the Royal High School for six years, he studied at the University of Glasgow from 1787 to May 1789, and at Queen's College, Oxford, from...
, lord advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
, in 1830; two years afterwards he was appointed sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Caithness
Caithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
, and in 1833 was transferred to a similar office in Buteshire. He was Solicitor-General for Scotland under Lord Melbourne's ministry in 1839, was made a lord ordinary of session
Senator of the College of Justice
The Senators of the College of Justice are judges of the College of Justice, a set of legal institutions involved in the administration of justice in Scotland. There are three types of Senator: Lords of Session ; Lords Commissioner of Justiciary ; and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court...
in the following year, and sat as judge in the court of exchequer
Court of Exchequer (Scotland)
The Court of Exchequer was formerly a distinct part of the court system in Scotland, with responsibility for administration of government revenue and judicial matters relating to customs and excise, revenue, stamp duty and probate...
. In 1849 he was appointed a lord of justiciary (taking the title of Lord Ivory), and served both in the Court of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
and the High Court of Justiciary
High Court of Justiciary
The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court of Scotland.The High Court is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal. As a court of first instance, the High Court sits mainly in Parliament House, or in the former Sheriff Court building, in Edinburgh, but also sits from time...
until his retirement in October 1862. For several years before that date he was the senior judge of both courts.
Ivory died at Edinburgh on 18 Oct. 1866. He married, in 1817, a daughter of Alexander Lawrie, deputy gazette writer for Scotland. His eldest son, William Ivory, was sheriff of Inverness-shire.
As a lawyer Ivory was distinguished by the subtlety of his reasoning, his minuteness of detail, and profound erudition. He was not a fluent orator, but in the early part of his career, when legal argument was conducted in writing, be obtained a high reputation.