John Inglis, Lord Glencorse (15 March 1810 – 9 August 1891) was a Scottish advocate, politician, and judge who served as Lord Advocate and later as Lord President of the Court of Session, the supreme civil court of Scotland.
Early life and education
Inglis was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the second son of John Inglis, a merchant, and his wife, Margaret. He attended the High School of Edinburgh before matriculating at the University of Edinburgh, where he earned a Master of Arts degree. He subsequently studied law at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow.
Legal career
In 1833, Inglis was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates. He built a reputation as a skilled counsel, particularly in criminal and commercial matters. In 1846, he was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland, and in 1852 he became Lord Advocate, the chief legal officer of the Scottish government. During his tenure he was elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of St Andrews Burghs (1852–1858).
Judicial appointments
In 1858, Inglay was appointed Lord Justice Clerk, the second most senior judge in Scotland, and assumed the judicial title “Lord Glencorse.” In 1867 he was promoted to Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General, the highest judicial office in Scotland, a position he held until his retirement in 1886.
Contributions and publications
Lord Glencorse authored several influential legal texts, including “A Treatise on the Law of Land and Cover” (1845) and “The Law of Scotland as Applied to Roman Catholics” (1856). He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and contributed to the development of Scottish jurisprudence through both his judgments and scholarly works.
Personal life and death
Inglis married Margaret Mary Gordon in 1842; the couple had several children. He died on 9 August 1891 at his residence in Edinburgh and was interred in Grange Cemetery. His legacy includes reforms to the Scottish legal system and a body of judicial decisions that continue to be cited in contemporary Scottish law.
