Alexander Seaton ca.1639-1719
Sir Alexander SEATON or SETON, 1st baronet, Lord Pitmedden, ca.1639-1719
Biographical Note
Younger son of Sir John Seton of Pitmedden, 3rd baronet (d.1639) and Elizabeth Seton, daughter of Sir Samuel Johnston of Elphinstone. Graduated from Marischal College, Aberdeen in 1654. Admitted as an advocate of the Scottish bar in 1661. Knighted by Charles II in 1664. Inherited the estate of Pitmedden after his brother died in 1667. Nominated an ordinary lord of the court session in 1677, and admitted a lord of justiciary in 1682. MP for Aberdeen in 1681, 1685 and 1686. Was the only judge in parliament to oppose James VII and II's attempts to repeal the test and penal laws, and was subsequently removed from office. He published two legal texts, including A treatise of mutilation and demembration, 1699.
Books
Seaton's library of over three thousand volumes was sold by auction from 11 January 1720 in Edinburgh. The auction comprised 3080 lots of books, excluding pamphlets, with the most numerous categories being theology (1483 lots), law (596 lots) and history (697 lots). Of his books, 1206 were in octavo or smaller, 1085 were in folio and 789 were in quarto. An interleaved clerk's copy of the catalogue with buyers' names and prices is held in the National Library of Scotland, and indicates that many of his history books were bought by the Library of the Faculty of Advocates.
Sources
- Alston, R. C. Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
- Stronach, George, and Clare Jackson. "Seton, Sir Alexander, of Pitmedden, first baronet, Lord Pitmedden (1639?–1719), judge." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- A catalogue of valuable books, in several languages and faculties... being the library which belong'd to Sir Alexander Seaton of Pitmedden Baronet, lately deceased, [Edinburgh, 1719], ESTC T163755. NLS interleaved clerk's copy: MS.3802.