Andrew Stuart

Who was Andrew Stuart?

Andrew Stuart was a Scottish lawyer.

He was the second son of Archibald Stuart of Torrance in Lanarkshire, seventh son and heir of Alexander Stuart of Torrance. His mother, Elizabeth, was daughter of Sir Andrew Myreton of Gogar, bart.

Andrew studied law, and became a member of the Scottish bar. He was engaged by James, sixth duke of Hamilton, as tutor to his children, and through his influence was in 1770 appointed Keeper of the Signet of Scotland. When the famous Douglas lawsuit arose, in which the Duke of Hamilton disputed the identity of Archibald James Edward Douglas, first baron Douglas, and endeavoured to hinder his succession to the family estates, Stuart was engaged to conduct the case against the claimant. In the course of the suit, which was finally decided in the House of Lords in February 1769 in favour of Douglas, he distinguished himself highly, but so much feeling arose between him and Edward Thurlow, the opposing counsel, that a duel took place. After the decision of the case Stuart in 1773 published a series of Letters to Lord Mansfield, who had been a judge in the case, and who had very strongly supported the claims of Douglas.