Cosmo Nelson Innes FRSE | |
|---|---|
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| Born | (1798-09-09)9 September 1798 |
| Died | 31 July 1874(1874-07-31) (aged 75) |
| Burial place | Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Education | Edinburgh High School |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation(s) | Advocate, judge, historian and antiquary |
| Parents |
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Cosmo Nelson InnesFRSE (9 September 1798 – 31 July 1874) was a Scottishadvocate, judge, historian and antiquary. He served asAdvocate-Depute,Sheriff ofElginshire, andPrincipal Clerk of Session.
He was a skilled decipherer of ancient Scottish records and helped to compile, edit and indexActs of the Scottish Parliament 1124–1707. He was said to be tall, handsome but shy. He was accused of being a Catholic sympathiser whilst it remained illegal, and joined the Scottish Episcopal Church, closer in some practices to the Catholic Church.Dean Ramsay, head of the Episcopal Church, was one of his friends.
Born inDurris House to Euphemia Russell and John Innes ofLeucharsWS. His middle name, Nelson, is almost certainly to markHoratio Nelson's then recent victory at theBattle of the Nile in August 1798. Thirteen of his 14 siblings died, only he and his sister Elizabeth survived.[1] His friends includedAlexander Forbes Irvine (1818–1892), whose career closely paralleled his own.[2]
He was educated atEdinburgh High School, then at theUniversity of Edinburgh under ProfessorJames Pillans.[3] He then undertook further studies at the universities ofAberdeen andGlasgow, and atBalliol College, Oxford (1817–1820)[4] graduating with a BA 1820. He was admitted to theFaculty of Advocates in 1822, and was appointed Professor of Constitutional Law and History at theUniversity of Edinburgh in 1846.
In the 1830s he lived inAllan Ramsay's former house, Ramsay Lodge, at the top of theRoyal Mile (later absorbed intoRamsay Gardens).[5] He had offices with his brother, Thomas Innes, at 51 North Castle Street in theNew Town.[6]
From 1840 to 1852 he wasSheriff of Moray during which time he had to deal with protesters angry at the continued export of grain from their district after the potato crop on which they relied heavily was lost toblight. On Wednesday 27 January 1847, Innes and his special constables were repulsed by a mob after they attempted to arrest the leaders of the protesters who had unloaded oatmeal from the cargo vesselJames and Bessie inBurghead harbour and returned it to the grain-merchant's granary. The Sheriff and his party were obliged to retreat toElgin and call for military assistance.[7] Innes resigned from his post as Sheriff in 1852 to succeedThomas Thomson in the role ofPrincipal Clerk of Session in the ScottishCourt of Session.[3]
In 1843 he became a member of theEdinburgh Calotype Club one of the world's first photographic societies.[8] He was also a member of theSpalding Club,Maitland Club andBannatyne Club.[3]
In 1858 he was elected a Fellow of theRoyal Society of Scotland. His proposer wasJames Thomson Gibson-Craig. He served as the Society's Vice-President 1862–69.
In later life Innes lived in Inverleith House in northern Edinburgh. The house still exists and is in the grounds of Edinburgh'sRoyal Botanic Garden. The Garden was formed from Innes' former garden grounds.[9]
He died unexpectedly on 31 July 1874 atKillin while on a "Highland Tour". He was buried on 5 August atWarriston Cemetery inEdinburgh.[10] The grave lies on the east side of the main west path, just beyond the large Celtic cross toHoratio McCulloch. Given that Innes was one of the richest persons in Edinburgh, the gravestone is exceptionally modest.
He was the author ofMemoir ofThomas Thomson, Advocate (1854),Scotland in the Middle Ages (1860),Sketches of Early Scottish History (1861),Lectures on Scotch Legal Antiquities (1872) andReminiscences of Scottish Life and Character (1875, co-written withDean Ramsay)). He also edited many historical manuscripts for theBannatyne Club and other antiquarian clubs. He also frequently wrote for theQuarterly Review andNorth British Review.
Photographic works include "A Tour: The Coast of Spain" (an album of 1857);Midcalder Church (1856);Dunrobin Castle (1856); andElgin Cathedral (1856).[11]
In 1826 Innes married Isabella Rose, daughter ofHugh Rose ofKilravock. They had nine children: four daughters and five sons.[1]
From 1836 he and his wife were appointed the formal guardian of their niece, Isabella Grant, whose parents had died in India. In 1844, her uncle Captain Alexander Grant, brother of her father Patrick, challenged the guardianship, however the court found the challenge inappropriate as her home was wholly appropriate and was the will of her father.[16]
Links to several of his works:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Cousin, John William (1910).A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London: J. M. Dent & Sons – viaWikisource.
