James Ogilvy 1663-1730

James OGILVY or OGILBIE 4th earl of Findlater and 1st earl of Seafield, 1663-1730

Ogilvy's bookplate (British Museum Franks Collection *553)

Biographical Note

Son of James Ogilvy, 3rd earl of Findlater (d.1711). Educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen and in the Netherlands. He was admitted to the bar as an advocate in 1685 and sat in the Scottish Parliament 1689–1695. In 1693 he was knighted and appointed solicitor-general of Scotland. He was appointed president of the 1698 session of parliament and in 1701 was created earl of Seafield. He was appointed lord high chancellor of Scotland in 1702 and was one of the commissioners for the treaty of Union in 1706. He was subsequently one of the sixteen Scottish peers in the new parliament of Great Britain.

Books

Used an engraved bookplate:

Franks *553 (Ogilvie), The Right Honble. James, Lord Viscount Seafield Lord Ogilbie of Cullen. Sole Secretary of State for the Kingdome of Scotland. 1698.

The extent and disposition of his library is not known.

Sources

• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.
• Young, John R. "Ogilvy, James, fourth earl of Findlater and first earl of Seafield (1663–1730), politician." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.