1921-22.] Obituary Notices. 381 
For most men who join the Bar recognition comes slowly if it comes at 
all. Some who have afterwards reached the highest pinnacle of distinction 
in their profession have been practically briefless for eight or ten years 
after they offered themselves for practice. It was otherwise with Dickson. 
His Glasgow friends who had known him as a pleader in the Sheriff Court 
showered briefs upon him, and before the year was out he found it 
necessary to resign a lectureship on Constitutional Law and History to 
which he had been appointed in Glasgow University. From that time 
onwards he had no lack of work, and for many years ranked as the busiest 
junior counsel at the Scottish Bar. For a short time he acted as an 
Advocate-Depute, a good preparation for the office of Solicitor-General, to 
which he was appointed in 1896. He held this position till 1903, when he 
succeeded Graham-Murray as Lord Advocate on the latter undertaking 
the duties of Secretary for Scotland. He held office as Lord Advocate till 
the winter of 1905-6, when a Liberal Government came into power. In 
1908 he was appointed Dean of Faculty by the unanimous vote of his 
brethren at the Bar. He thus successively held all the highest honours 
that fall to the lot of the successful advocate. In 1915, on the retirement 
of Lord Kingsburgh, he was appointed Lord Justice-Clerk under the title 
of Lord Scott Dickson, and presided in the Second Division of the Court 
of Session until his death on 5th August 1922. 
His political career was more chequered. From his student days his 
politics were pronouncedly Conservative, and as President of the Glasgow 
University Students’ Association he was largely instrumental in securing 
the return of Disraeli as Lord Rector. He never changed his politics, 
although in Scotland there were then few seats where a Conservative had 
much chance of success. In 1892 he contested the Kilmarnock Burghs, in 
1895 and again in 1896 the Bridgeton Division of Glasgow. In all three con- 
tests he was unsuccessful. In 1900 he was at last returned for Bridpfeton, 
lost it again in 1906, but was returned at an election in 1909, and 
continued to represent it till he renounced politics for the serener atmosphere 
of the Bench. Few men who were not professional politicians worked so 
hard and sacrificed so much for the party to which they belonged. 
In the House of Commons he had few opportunities of joining in 
debate, and then only in connection with Scottish Bills, but in the real 
business which is often done in Committee he was a most useful member. 
He was popular with all parties, and by the members of his own party was 
affectionately known as Scotty.” His freedom from bias and all trace 
of bitterness, combined with his sound judgment, accounted largely for hia 
success in handling Scottish Bills. 
