Biography of Archibald Campbell Lawrie

Archibald Campbell Lawrie graduated BA from the University in 1856 and was awarded an honorary LLD in 1905.

Lawrie was born in Glasgow son James Adair Lawrie, who was at that time Regius Professor of Surgery at the University.

Lawrie became an Advocate, being admitted to the Scottish Bar in 1861. In 1873 was appointed District Judge of Kandy, Ceylon, modern day Sri Lanka, and in 1891 was Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court in Sri Lanka. He retired as Acting Chief Justice in 1901.

While in Sri Lanka, Lawrie learned Sinhalese, and he made a study of the Kandyan records left by the early British Administration, which produced his two volumes of Gazetteer of the Central Province of Ceylon in 1896 and 1898.

Upon his retirement, Lawrie returned to Scotland in 1902, where he received a knighthood. He went on to publish two volumes of Early Scottish Charters. He died on the 11 May 1914, at The Moss, Killearn, Stirlingshire.

Sources

Other Online Resources

• The Scottish Historical Review, Vol. 19, No. 76, Jul., 1922, Sir Archibald Lawrie's Charter Collections
• University of Ceylon Review. Vol. x, NO.3. Jury, 1952. Notes on Kandyan Law Collected by Sir. Archibald C. Lawrie, LL.D.

Archival Materials

• Addison, W. Innes, The Matriculation Albums of the University of Glasgow, 1728-1858, p.495

Summary

Archibald Campbell Lawrie
Born 8 September 1837.
Died 11 May 1914.
GU Degrees: BA, 1856; LLD, 1905;
University Link: Alumnus, Graduate, Honorary Graduate
Occupation categories: advocates; historians; judges
English snippet: Arts graduate of the University of Glasgow 1856
Record last updated: 27th Aug 2013

Country Associations

Scotland, Glasgow
Place of Birth

Scotland, Killearn
Place of Death

Sri Lanka

University Connections

University Roles

• Alumnus
• Graduate [View Archibald Campbell Lawrie's record in the list of graduates]
• Honorary Graduate