B I 0 G RA P H I CA I, S KE T C H E S. 167
No. LXXI.
ROBERT M'QUEEN OF BRAXFIELD,
LORD JUSTICE-CLERK.
THIS eminent lawyer and judge of the last century was born in 1722. His
father, John M'Queen, Esq. of Braxfield, in the county of Lanark, was educated
as a lawyer, and practised for some time ; but he gave up business on being
appointed Sheriff-substitute of the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire. He was
by no means wealthy, and having a large family, no extravagant views of
future advancement seem to have been entertained respecting his children.
Robert, who was his eldest son, received the early part of his education at the
grammar-school of the county town,' and thereafter attended a course at the
University of Edinburgh, with the view of becoming a Writer to the Signet.
In accordance with this resolution, young M'Queen was apprenticed to Mr.
Thomas Gouldie, an eminent practitioner, and, during the lat+er period of his
service, he had an opportunity of superiiitending the management of processes
before the Supreme Court. Those faculties of mind which subsequently distinguished
him both as a lawyer and a judge were thus called into active
operation ; and, feeling conscious of intellectual strength, he resolved to try his
fortune at the bar. This new-kindled ambition by no means disturbed his
arrangement with Mr. Gouldie, with whom he continued until the expiry of his
indenture. In the meantime, however, he set about the study of the civil and
feudal law, and very soon became deeply conversant in the principles of both,
especially of the latter.
In 1744, after the usual trials, he became a member of the Faculty of Advocates.
In the course of a few years afterwards, a number of questions arising
out of the Rebellion in 1745, respecting the forfeited estates, came to be decided,
in all of which M'Queen had the good fortune to be appointed counsel for
the crown. Nothing could be more opportunely favourable for demonstrating
the young advocate's talents than this fortuitous circumstance. The extent of
knowledge which he displayed as a feudal lawyer, in the management of these
cases-some of them of the greatest importance-obt,ained for him a degree of
reputation which soon became substantially apparent in the rapid increase of his
general practice. The easy unaffected manners of Mr. M'Queen also tended
much to promote success. At those meetings called consultations, which, for
many years after his admission to the bar, were generally held in taverns, he
" peculiarly shone" both in legal and social qualifications. Ultimately his practice
became so great, especially before the Lord Ordinary, that he has been repeatedly
The grammar-school of Lanark was at this period in considerable repute.
was Thomson, a relative of the author of " The Seasons," and married to his sister.
The teacher'a name