Sir Ilay Campbell (1734–1823) was a distinguished Scottish lawyer and judge, born in Edinburgh and admitted to the bar in 1757, who rapidly rose to prominence through his legal ability and celebrated role in the Douglas Cause. Renowned for the clarity and force of his pleadings, he became Solicitor-General in 1783, Lord Advocate in 1784, and later President of the Court of Session, where his judgments earned lasting respect. A committed supporter of Pitt’s administration, he also served as an MP and was created a baronet in 1808. Retiring voluntarily while still in full possession of his faculties, he spent his later years at Garscube, active in local affairs, literature, and agriculture, and was widely admired for his benevolence, intellect, and long, contented retirement from public life.
The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries