In 1789, at the age of forty-seven, Blair became solicitor-general for Scotland.

His uncle was the Scottish judge and Solicitor-General for Scotland Lord Thomas Mackenzie.

Mr Nicholas Fairbairn, the Solicitor-General for Scotland, left office in a hurry after widespread criticism of his comments about a rape case.

The Conservatives lost power in 1892 but when they returned to office in 1895 under Salisbury, Murray was once again made Solicitor-General for Scotland.

Sir Nicholas Fairbairn, a former Solicitor-General for Scotland, said some lawyers were deliberately spinning out cases and were on to a meal ticket.

His right-wing views endeared him to Margaret Thatcher, and when she formed her Government after winning the 1979 election, she appointed him Solicitor-General for Scotland.

It was named after the name of chairman, Lord William Hunter, former Solicitor-General for Scotland and Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland.

He married Jemima Wedderburn (cousin of James Clerk Maxwell), the daughter of James Wedderburn, Solicitor-General for Scotland.

He was Solicitor-General for Scotland under Lord Melbourne's ministry in 1839, was made a lord ordinary of session in the following year, and sat as judge in the court of exchequer.

At the suggestion of Lord Emslie, Lord President of the Court of Session, incoming Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher appointed Mackay Lord Advocate, with Fairbairn taking the second-ranking position of Solicitor-General for Scotland.