Sutherland, Robert

Epithet: of Add MS 35506

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000679.0x0000ec

Epithet: Lieutenant; RN

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000679.0x0000eb

Robert Sutherland W.S. was born in 1926. After some years in Stornoway and then in Essex, his family returned to Edinburgh and he spent his last few school years at the city's George Watson's College. He served in the Indian Army (1944-1947) towards the end of the Second World War. He had been a lieutenant in the Assam Regiment.

In 1951 Sutherland graduated with the degree of MA (Hons) in Economic Science, and then in 1953 with the degree of LL.B., both from Edinburgh University. From 1955 to 1973 he was a principal partner in the law firm Stuart and Stuart W.S. in Edinburgh, though after his graduation he also tutored in Conveyancing in Edinburgh University for several years.

In 1972, he became a Lecturer, and subsequently Senior Lecturer, in Private Law at Glasgow University, retiring in 1990. Among his academic interests he was, for a time, a member of council of the Stair Society, an external examiner in Legal History at Edinburgh University, and a member of council of the Geological Society of Edinburgh. He also served as a member of the Business Committee of the General Council of Edinburgh University and of some of its sub-committees.

For some years, Sutherland held lay office in the Episcopal Church in Scotland and was variously a member of the Diocesan Council and the Representative Church Council and some other Committees and Boards. For several years he was a member of the Law Reform Committee of the Law Society of Scotland. He is an honorary member of the Scottish Economic Society. In addition to a wide general experience as a practitioner for more than twenty years, he is an Honorary Sheriff of Tayside, Central and Fife and was for a number of years a Chairman of Social Security Tribunals in Glasgow, and Depute Chairman of central Lands Valuation Appeals Panel.

Until his retirement Sutherland was a Solicitor and remains a Writer to the Signet and a Notary Public. He is a Fellow of the Edinburgh Geological Society and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and a member of the Stair Society and the Scottish Record Society. He has maintained a strong interest in Scandinavian, particularly Norwegian, language and literature.

From the guide to the Edinburgh University lecture notes and other material of Robert Sutherland W.S. (b. 1926), 1947-1951, (Edinburgh University Library)