John Nisbet 1610-1688

Sir John NISBET 1610-1688

Biographical Note

Sir John Nisbet, Lord Dirleton, was a judge and politician, born to Sir Patrick Nisbet, Lord Eastbank, and Jean Arthur. His heir was William Nisbet. John Nisbet graduated from Edinburgh University in 1629, was admitted as an advocate in 1633, and was Lord Advocate from 1664-1677.

Nisbet was the author of Some Doubts and Questions, in the Law, and some comments on the decisions of the lords of council and session 1665-1677, which were published after his death in 1698. At one point he offered £1000 sterling for the recovery of a 'curious Greek manuscript' (ODNB) which he lost in a house fire.

Books

Nisbet's library was sold at auction after his death, from 24 July 1690 at Pircarlie's Stone Land at the Cross in Edinburgh. The auction contained 475 lots, 233 of which were books in Latin, 93 in French, and 22 in Italian. The majority of the volumes recorded in this catalogue were in folio (256 of 475), and at least 17 were in duodecimo.

Sources

• A catalogue of excellent and rare books, to be sold by way of auction the 24th. day of July. which was the library of the late Lord Dirltoun (Edinburgh, 1690). [H.35.d.1(1), H.32.a.13] (available digitally at Early English Books Online).
• Mann, A. J. "Nisbet, Sir John, Lord Dirleton (1610–1688), judge and politician." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.