Quick Facts
Biography
The Hon. Robert MacFarlane, Lord Ormidale FRSE (1802-1880) was a Scottish law lord and a Senator of the College of Justice. In 1868 he brought about a reform in the Court of Session ending technicalities in pleading, to try to focus upon justice in its broadest sense.
Life
He was born in Glen Douglas in Dunbartonshire on 30 July 1802, the son of Parlane MacFarlane (1771-1827) and his wife, Anne Campbell (1771-1827). He was christened in Luss on 25 August 1802.
He studied Law at both Glasgow University (1816-1819) and Edinburgh University (1819-1821) and was apprenticed to James Greig WS at 9 Abercromby Place in Edinburgh. He was created a Writer to the Signet (WS) in 1827. After spending some years in Jamaica he returned to Scotland and was created an advocate in 1838. Highly successful in civil cases he was created Sheriff of Renfrewshire in 1853. In 1862 he was created a Lord of Session and given the title Lord Ormidale.
In 1863 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being John Hutton Balfour.
He died at Hartrigge in Jedburgh on 3 November 1880. He chose to be buried with his wife (who predeceased him) in Warriston Cemetery in north Edinburgh.
Family
On 21 October 1843 he married Grace Addison Greig (1827-1880) from Eccles, Berwickshire. She was the daughter of his employer, James Greig WS. They had eight children.
Their son George Lewis MacFarlane (1854-1941) also became a Senator of the College of Justice, as the second Lord Ormidale in 1910.
Publications
- The Practice of the Court of Session in Jury Cases (1837)
- Practical Notes on the Structure of Issues in Jury Cases (1844)