David Boyle, Lord Boyle

Boyle was born near Irvine on 26 July 1772, the son of Elizabeth Dunlop, daughter of Professor Alexander Dunlop.[1] and the Honorable Reverend Patrick Boyle of Shewalton (died 1874),[2] son of John Boyle, 2nd Earl of Glasgow.

He was studied law at the University of St Andrews (1787) and then at the University of Glasgow (1789).[3]

He became an advocate in 1793 and rose to be Solicitor General. He was based at 41 George Street in Edinburgh.[4]

He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayrshire from 1807 to 1811 and served as Solicitor General for Scotland during that period. In 1811 he was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice, with the judicial title Lord Boyle. He was Lord Justice Clerk from 1811 to 1841. He became a Privy Counsellor in 1820[1] and Lord Justice General from 1841 to 1852.

From 1815 to 1817 he served as Rector of the University of Glasgow.[3]

In 1833 his address was listed as 28 Charlotte Square at the west end of Edinburgh's New Town.[5]

Boyle married firstly, in 1804, Elizabeth Montgomery (died April 1822), daughter of Alexander Montgomery. They had several children, including Patrick Boyle, father of David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow; and Alexander Boyle, a vice-admiral in the Royal Navy.[6]

Boyle married secondly, in 1827, Catherine Campbell Smythe, daughter of David Smythe, Lord Methven.[2] Their children included George David Boyle, who became Dean of Salisbury. Boyle died on 4 February 1853, aged 80. His second wife died in December 1880.[1]

His daughter, Helen, married Charles Dalrymple Fergusson, Baronet of Kilkerran.

David Boyle inherited the family estate of Shewalton near Irvine, and was buried at Dundonald, South Ayrshire.[1]

The central pavilion on the south side of Charlotte Square, home of Lord Boyle

Memorial to David Boyle at Dundonald.

• Highland Society (1804)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1820)[2]

• Grant, Arthur Henry (1886). "Boyle, David" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 6. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 109–110.

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by David Boyle
• thepeerage.com "Rt. Hon. David Boyle", The Peerage