| Administrative History | Born in 1619, James Dalrymple was educated at Glasgow and then taught there, his subject being law. He was influential and successful, despite strongly-held political beliefs: he was prominent during the Commonwealth even though he refused to oppose the King, and even though, as Lord President, he avoided signing the Test Oath in 1681 by leaving for Holland, he was reappointed Lord President when he returned. He was made Viscount Stair in 1690. His 'Institutions of the Law of Scotland' is his most famous work and still influential today. He died in 1695, leaving a large family. |