JAMES GARDNER
MILLAR
THE Sheriff Principal of Lanarkshire was born in Glasgow in
1855, and is a son of the late John Millar, merchant, who was a magistrate of
the city at the time of his death in 1863. Mr. Millar received his schooling at
Glasgow High School, and graduated M.A. at Glasgow University. He began his
career as an apprentice to the legal firm of J. & J. Boyd, Glasgow, and after
attending law classes in Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities, graduated LL.B. at
the latter. He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1881, and was
appointed a Sheriff Court Depute in 1894, and an extra Depute on the Western
Circuit a year later. On the passing of the Local Government (Scotland) Act in
1894, when commissioners were appointed to settle the boundaries of parishes for
the purpose of the measure, he was chosen by the Secretary for Scotland to hold
several of the enquiries. Twice, on the death of Sheriff Orr Paterson, Ayr, and
of Sheriff Hall, Kilmarnock, he was commissioned to act as interim Sheriff
Substitute. On the latter occasion he was entertained to dinner by the local
Bar. Again, in the winter of 1904, during the illness of Sheriff Strachan, he
acted as Sheriff Substitute in Glasgow, and on Sheriff Strachan's death the Dean
and 120 leading procurators in Glasgow signed a memorial to the Lord Advocate,
desiring Mr. Millar's appointment to the vacant post. He became legal secretary
to the present Lord Advocate in 1905, and in July, 1906, was appointed
Sheriff-Substitute of the Lothians and Peebles at Edinburgh. Finally, after the
death of Sheriff Guthrie, he was appointed to his present position as Sheriff
Principal of Lanarkshire in September, 1908. Among other literary work he is the
author of several important articles in Green's Encyclopaedia.
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Index of Glasgow Men (1909)