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John Trayner, Lord Trayner was an Advocate and later Father of the Bar in Edinburgh noted for his cases for defence and for his production of the book 'Latin Maxims and Phrases Collected from the Institutional Writers on the Law of Scotland and Other Sources' (1894) Lord John Trayner, Wiliam Green and Sons, Edinburgh.

Early Life

John Trayner was born in Scotland in 1834 the son of Hugh Trayner and Agnes (nee Fraser). Records are difficult to acquire at this time and the first evidence of the family is in the 1841 census under the name Trainer living in Stobcross Street, Glasgow. He initially enrolled at the Univeristy of Glasgow in 1851 but for some reason transfered to Edinburgh in 1854. In 1858 he was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh and started his long career in Scottish Law.

Life was tough with some days his only meal being some oysters bought from the Grassmarket which were a cheap source of food at the time (Source: written copy of a speech by his Granddaughter Dorothy Salvesen for her 60th birthday). In order to help fund his education and aid his career John started compiling a book listing the 'Latin Maxims and Phrases' he encountered. He managed to get this first published in 1861 by William Paterson.

This book was continually updated during his lifetime with the final fourth edition by Lord John published in 1894 by W. Green and Sons. This has continued to be updated (though now published by BiblioBazaar, LLC 'Latin Phrases and Maxims: Collected from the Institutional and Other Writers On Scotch Law: With Translations and Illustrations' 2010) and is still used today by law students.

Later Life

In 1863 he married Francis Elizabeth Maxwell Wyld (born 04.08.1963) who was the eldest daughter of Robert Stodart Wyld of Gilston and they had four children together Isabelle Georgina Maxwell Trayner (06.01.1865 - 05.04.1939), Charles Hugh Maxwell Trayner born (03.03.1867 - 21.02.1908), Robert Wyld Maxwell Trayner (23.12.1870 - 21.06.1958) and Frances Agnes Mary Camille Trayner (28.05.1878 - 1953).

John was appointed Ex Officio Sheriff Principal of Forfarshire (18.03.1881) and was on the original governing body for the University College of Dundee. He became a Senator of the College of Justice (26.02.1885-1904) and was elevated to the bench. After reaching the bench he was awarded an Honorary degree at Glasgow University (it was not unusual at the time for a student not to graduate at the end of their university education as this incured a fee).

He commissioned his wife's cousin Robert Stodart Lorimer in 1893 to build Trayner's Grange, North Berwick where they lived for almost 10 years.

Golf was one of Lord Trayner's passions and in 1894 he was on the board of Trustees for the founding of the The New Luffness Golf Club, Aberlady. In 1895 he became Captain of the club and in 1896 the 'Trayner Cup' competition was first held in July though restricted to 32 entrants. The Trayner Cup competition is still run to this day.

Lord Trayner resigned from the bench in 1904 a Father of the Bar.

Tragedy struck in 1908 with the death of his son Charles, followed fourth months later by Lord John's wife Francis. Charles had been appointed Consul for Galicia, the Asturias, and Leon (living in Corunna) in 1903 and had developed a fever and died 21.02.1908 leaving his wife Emmeline (nee Tourquist adopted daughter of Herr Von Voights Retz, German Plenipotentiary in Chilli) and daughter Mildred Alice Frances Trayner (born 1900 Guatemala). Francis died of a wasting sickness after three months of illness.

He lived in Tunbridge Wells for a time, then returned to Edinburgh to live with his daughter Isabelle and son-in-law Lord Edward Salvesen in Dean Park House, Queensferry for his last 10 years.

Portrait

There was a portrait carried out of Lord Trayner which hangs in the entrance hall to the Scrumyeour Building at the University of Dundee. It is included in the Foreword of the reprinted fourth edition of "Latin Maxims and Phrases" 1993. The portrait was acquired by the University of Dundee from the estate of his grandson (John Edward Trayner) and was executed by Sir George Reid RSA.

Coat of Arms

Lord John Trayner matriculated a Scottish Coat of Arms in 1878. The shield is blue with a white strip horizontally accross the middle. Within the white strip is a black saltire cross. The top blue portion has two silver plumed helmets and the bottom blue portion has a silver flower with five petals. Above the shield is a silver helmet with white and blue plumes and sitting on top of the helmet is a red lion rampant (seated sideways) with a blue tongue. Over the top is a motto: Par Loi et Droit (By Law and Right).

Official Description: Azure on a fess between two esquires' helmets plumed chief and a frasie in base argent, a satire sable (Source: "John Trayner, advocate, Edinburgh 1878" in " Scottish Arms - an ordinary of Scottish Arms: William Green and Sons 1903, Edinburgh).

Notable Trials

1877 - Gardner V Gardner case

1878 - Trial and conviction of Eugene Marie Chantrelle: murdering his 16yr old wife (defence)

1880 - Tay Bridge disaster enquiry (03.01.1880) verdict 06.80 (prosecution: the Board of Trade)

1887 - Hogarth V. Miller, trial by Lord Ordinary (Trayner) eventually went to House of Lords

1895 - McGee V Anderson 22 R.274 case

1898 - Keiller & Co. V. Harriet Stewart

1900 - Free Church of Scotland V. United Free Church (Judge of the Court of Session)

1904 - Death sentence for Thomas Gunning by Lord Trayner as Judge (part of the Black Assize)

Books

'Latin Maxims and Phrases Collected from the Institutional Writers on the Law of Scotland and Other Sources' (1894) Lord John Trayner, Wiliam Green and Sons, Edinburgh

References

(1). W. Green and Sons, "Scots Law Times - Lord Trayner Obituary", (Edinburgh, 1929)

(2). Grant, Sir F.J. (ED) "The Faculty of Advocates in Scotland 1532-1943", (Edinburgh Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1944) (Entry: "Trayner, John")

(3). Andorsen, H.F. (ED) "Memoirs of Lord Salvesen", (Edinburgh, 1949)

(4). Paul, Sir James Balfour “An Ordinary of Scottish Arms”, (William Green and Sons, Edinburgh, 1903)

External links

http://www.trayner-family.com/Trayner-John.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_maxim

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_List_of_Senators_of_the_College_of_Justice

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/museum/fineart/scottish2.htm

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