Rosehaugh, Sir George Mackenzie of, c 1636-1691 (lawyer, Lord Advocate, essayist and legal writer)
Dates
- Existence: c 1636 - 1691
Biography
Mackenzie, who was born in Dundee, was the son of Sir Simon Mackenzie of Lochslin (died c. 1666) and Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of the Reverend Peter Bruce, minister of St Leonard's, and Principal of St Leonard's Hall in the University of St Andrews. He was a grandson of Kenneth, Lord Mackenzie of Kintail and a nephew of George Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Seaforth.
He was educated at the King's College, University of Aberdeen (which he entered in 1650), the University of St Andrews, and the University of Bourges in France.
Mackenzie was elected to the Faculty of Advocates in 1659, and spoke in defence at the trial of Archibald Campbell, Marquis of Argyll in 1661. He acted as justice-depute from 1661 to 1663, a post that involved him in extensive witch trials. Mackenzie was knighted, and was a member of the Scottish Parliament for the County of Ross from 1669. In 1677 he became Lord Advocate, and a member of the Privy Council of Scotland.
Mackenzie retired at the Glorious Revolution, and he died at Westminster on 8 May 1691. He is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Ms volume of genealogies of Scottish families, drawn up by Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh
This genealogical manuscript volume relating to Scottish families, by Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, bears the bookplate of Robert Graham, a literary patron of Robert Burns.
The title-page is noted as...: "A collection of the most remarkable accounts that relate to the families of Scotland, drawn from their own charters [...] By Sir George Mackenzie".
264 manuscript leaves, contemporary quarter calf over boards.