Alexander Boswell - Lord Auchinleck - Father of the great biographer James
Biography
Birth: 1707
Death: 1782
Son of James Boswell (ca. 1672-1749) and Elizabeth Bruce. Father of the James Boswell (1740-1795). Married first (1738) to Euphemia Erskine (d. 1766) and later (1769) to his cousin Elizabeth Boswell. A graduate from the University of Leyden, Holland (graduating in December 1729). In 1748 he was appointed Sheriff-Depute of Wigtownshire. In 1754 he was appointed a Lord of Session, as Lord Auchinleck, and in 1755 Lord Justiciary. He is still remembered for saving the so-called Auchinleck Manuscript1 from destruction in 1740.
Also known as
- Lord Auchinleck
Life with James Boswell
James and his father disagreed on a number of issues throughout their lives, including James' career choice, publishing schemes and travels, as well as his choice of friends and, eventually, wife. Although he respected his father much, James, when he was about 25, stated that the only thing he had learned from his father was absolute honesty, a thing which we, the readers of his journals, can only be grateful for!
Notes
Note 1: http://www.nls.uk/auchinleck/
Related links
Mentioned in
Alexander Boswell is mentioned in:
- Journal of my Jaunt, Harvest 1762
- London Journal 1762-1763
- Boswell in Holland 1763-1764
