John Swinton

The Hon John Swinton, Lord Swinton (1723–1799) was a Scottish lawyer, judge and writer who rose to be a Senator of the College of Justice.

Life He was the son of John Swinton of Swinton House in Berwickshire, advocate, and his wife Mary Semple, daughter of Rev Samuel Semple, minister of Liberton.

He was admitted advocate on 20 December, 1743, Appointed Sheriff of Perth in June 1754, in April 1766 he became solicitor for renewal of leases of the bishops' tithes, and solicitor and advocate to the commissioners for plantation of kirks in Scotland.

Swinton was elevated to the Scottish bench, with the title of Lord Swinton, on 21 December, 1782 replacing Alexander Lockhart, Lord Covington, and later, on the promotion of Lord Braxfield in 1788, was also made a lord of justiciary. At this time he had legal offices on Browns Square on the southern edge of Edinburgh. He also owned Dean House on the west side of Edinburgh.

Swinton House, his main country residence, burned down in 1797 and was not rebuilt until after his death.

He retained both appointments till his death, at his residence, Dean House, Edinburgh, on 5 January 1799.

His last surviving son, George Swinton FRSE, served as Chief Secretary to the Bengal Civil Service and died in 1854, being buried in Dean Cemetery the site of old Dean House.