Alexander Morison, Lord Prestongrange

Prestongrange House, East Lothian

He was the son of John Morison of Saughtonhall (1558–1615), a burgess and treasurer of the city of Edinburgh, and his wife, Katherine Preston, daughter of John Preston, Lord President of the Court of Session.[1] He was born in 1579 probably in Saughton Hall, just west of Edinburgh.

John Preston (his grandfather) had built Prestongrange, a fine mansion west of Prestonpans, and this house came to belong to Alexander through inheritance around 1600.[2]

He trained as a lawyer at Edinburgh University under Henry Charteris, graduating MA in 1598, and passed the Scottish bar as an advocate in 1604.[3][4]

In February 1626 he was elected a Senator of the College of Justice and took the title Lord Prestongrange. In 1627 he was elected Rector of the University of Edinburgh in place of Andrew Ramsay.[5]

He died at home in Preston Grange in East Lothian on 20 September 1631.[6]

In 1610 he married Eleanor Maule daughter of William Maule of Glaster. They had four daughters and one son, Alexander, who inherited the Preston Grange estate.[7][8]

One daughter Bethia married Sir Robert Spottiswoode.[9]

His sister Catherine, married William Scott, Lord Clerkington.

Saughton Hall stood in 98 acres of ground and was demolished by Edinburgh Council in 1952 to make way for housing.[10]