DALRYMPLE, Sir JAMES, first Viscount Stair (1619-95). A Scotch lawyer and states man. The son of a small proprietor in Ayrshire. he was born at Drummurchie in May, 1619. Educated at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universi ties, at an early age lie entered the army raised in Scotland to repel the religious innovations of Charles I., but returned to civil and literary pursuits, and in 1641 was appointed professor of philosophy at Glasgow. In 1648 he entered as an advocate at the Scotch bar, where he rapidly acquired distinction. In 1649 and in 1650 he was appointed secretary to the commis sioners sent to Holland by the Scottish Parlia ment to treat with Charles II.; and in 1657 was induced to become one of the 'commissioners for the administration of justice' in Scotland under Cromwell's Government. Dalrymple was a Royalist, hut resigned his seat in 1663 on his refusal to take the 'declaration' oath, which denied the right of the nation to take up arms against the King. His great talents, however, induced Charles 11. to create him a baronet. and in 1671 to appoint him Lord President of the Court of Session. He was invariably the advocate of moderate measures. In 1681 he
refused to take the new test oath, and resigned his appointments. The same year he published the Institutions of the Law of Scotland, which is still the grand text-book of the Scottish lawyer. After some time spent on his estate in Wigton shire. Dalrymple went to Holland in 16S2 to escape factious persecution. During 1684-87, while residing at Leyden. he published at Edin burgh his Decisions; and in 1686, at Leyden, a Latin work entitled Physiologia iVora Experi mcntalis. He accompanied the Prince of Orange on his expedition to England. William reap pointed him Lord President of the Court of Session and created him Viscount Stair. Lord Glenluce and Stranraer in 1690. He died in Edinburgh, November 23, 1695. His daughter. Janet, who died in 1669, within a month of her marriage to Dunbar, Laird of Baldoon, is the original of Scott's Bride of Lammermoor. Con sult: Mackey. Memoirs of Sir James Dalrymple, First Viscount Stair (Edinburgh, 18731: and Graham. Anna/.c and Correspondence of the Vis count and First and Second Earls of Stair (Edin burgh, 1875).