Alexander Ure, 1st Baron Strathclyde

Who was Alexander Ure, 1st Baron Strathclyde?

Alexander Ure, 1st Baron Strathclyde GBE was a Scottish politician and judge.

Educated at the University of Glasgow he was admitted to membership of the Faculty of Advocates in 1878.

He was Liberal Member of Parliament for Linlithgowshire from 1895 to 1913. He became a Queen's Counsel in 1897.

Alexander Ure's integrity is widely open to question: he misled the Court in the trial of Oscar Slater for the murder of Marion Gilchrist in 1909; it could be alleged he conspired with the police, Fiscal and Crown Office to prevent two brothers being prosecuted for the murder. He also claimed Balfour's Conservative Party would abolish the old pension.

He served as Solicitor General for Scotland from 1905 to 1909, and as Lord Advocate from 1909 to 1913. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Lloyd George's 1909-10 budget.

On leaving Parliament he was raised to the bench as Lord Strathclyde and appointed Lord Justice General, a post he held until 1920. He was raised to the Peerage as Baron Strathclyde, of Sandyford in the County of Lanark, in 1914. He is said to have been skilled in cross-examination, and was more suited to life as an advocate than as a judge.