Thomas Hope, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Hope, 1st Baronet (1573–1646) was a Scottish
lawyer.
Admitted as an advocate
in 1605, he made his reputation by defence of John Forbes (1568?-1634), and other ministers at Linlithgow
in 1606. He prepared the deed revoking James VI
's grants of church property in 1625. He was appointed Lord Advocate
in 1626, and held the office until 1641. He was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1628.
He conducted the case against John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino
in 1634. As Lord High Commissioner
to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
in 1643, he maintained the king's temporizing policy.
In 1645 Hope was appointed one of the Commissioners for managing the Exchequer
, but died the next year. Two of his sons appointed to the bench while he was Lord Advocate; and it being judged by the Court of Session unbecoming that a father should plead uncovered before his children, the privilege of wearing his hat, while pleading, was granted to him. This privilege his successors in the office of Lord Advocate have ever since enjoyed, though it is now in danger of being lost through desuetude.
His "Practical Observations Upon divers titles of the Law of Scotland", commonly called the "Minor Practicks" were published in 1726.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
lawyer.
Admitted as an advocate
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 1605, he made his reputation by defence of John Forbes (1568?-1634), and other ministers at Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
in 1606. He prepared the deed revoking James VI
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
's grants of church property in 1625. He was appointed 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 1626, and held the office until 1641. He was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1628.
He conducted the case against John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino
John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino
John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino was a Scottish aristocrat, convicted in a celebrated trial of the 1630s which became a crux of the religious issue of the time.-Early life:...
in 1634. As Lord High Commissioner
Lord High Commissioner
Lord High Commissioner is the style of High Commissioners, i.e. direct representatives of the monarch, in three cases in the Kingdom of Scotland and the United Kingdom, two of which are no longer extant...
to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
in 1643, he maintained the king's temporizing policy.
In 1645 Hope was appointed one of the Commissioners for managing the Exchequer
Exchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
, but died the next year. Two of his sons appointed to the bench while he was Lord Advocate; and it being judged by the Court of Session unbecoming that a father should plead uncovered before his children, the privilege of wearing his hat, while pleading, was granted to him. This privilege his successors in the office of Lord Advocate have ever since enjoyed, though it is now in danger of being lost through desuetude.
His "Practical Observations Upon divers titles of the Law of Scotland", commonly called the "Minor Practicks" were published in 1726.
Historical Fiction
- Sir Thomas Hope is the subject of Nigel Tranter's last novel, "Hope Endures", published in 2005.