# Alexander Forbes Irvine > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alexander_Forbes_Irvine > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alexander_Forbes_Irvine.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Forbes_Irvine > Source revision: 1354549103 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Scottish landowner, advocate, philosopher and amateur astronomer (1818–1892) Alexander Forbes Irvine Born (1818-02-18)18 February 1818 Schivas House, Tarves, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Died 4 April 1892(1892-04-04) (aged 74) Drum Castle, Scotland Education Marischal College, University of Aberdeen; University of Edinburgh Occupations Landowner, advocate, philosopher, amateur astronomer Known for Prominent member of Clan Irvine, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, Principal Clerk of the Justiciary Court, Sheriff of Argyll, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Spouse Anna Margaretta Forbes-Leslie (m. 1848) Children 2 Parent(s) Margaret Hamilton and Alexander Forbes Irvine, 19th Laird of Drum **Alexander Forbes Irvine, 20th Laird of Drum** [FRSE](/source/FRSE) JP DL LLD (1818–1892) was a Scottish landowner, advocate, philosopher and amateur astronomer. He was a prominent member of [Clan Irvine](/source/Clan_Irvine) and held the family seat of [Drum Castle](/source/Drum_Castle) until his death.[1] ## Life Drum Castle in 1829 (by John Preston Neale) Drum Castle in 2007 Irvine was born at Schivas House near the village of [Tarves](/source/Tarves%2C_Aberdeenshire) in [Aberdeenshire](/source/Aberdeenshire) on 18 February 1818, the son of Margaret Hamilton of the Hamiltons of Little Earnick, and Alexander Forbes Irvine, 19th Laird of Drum. He was a friend of his near neighbour, [Cosmo Innes](/source/Cosmo_Innes), and their careers followed very parallel paths. Other friends included [William Forbes Skene](/source/William_Forbes_Skene) of Rubbislaw and Sir David Lindsay.[2] He was home tutored rather than attending school, then studied law first at [Marischal College](/source/Marischal_College) in the [University of Aberdeen](/source/University_of_Aberdeen) then at the [University of Edinburgh](/source/University_of_Edinburgh). He passed the Scottish bar as an advocate in 1848 and rose to be Dean of the Faculty of Advocates. He was Principal Clerk of the Justiciary Court from 1867 to 1874, and [Sheriff of Argyll](/source/Sheriff_of_Argyll) from 1874 to 1891. Irvine inherited the [Drum Estate](/source/Drum_Castle) in 1861, on the death of his father. In 1875/1876, he arranged for a restoration of the courtyard, and the addition of an arched entrance and angle tower.[3][4] He was also partly responsible for a restoration of the chapel.[5] In 1878, Irvine was elected a Fellow of the [Royal Society of Edinburgh](/source/Royal_Society_of_Edinburgh). His proposers were Sir Alexander Grant, [Charles Neaves, Lord Neaves](/source/Charles_Neaves%2C_Lord_Neaves), [Edward Sang](/source/Edward_Sang) and [Peter Guthrie Tait](/source/Peter_Guthrie_Tait). He twice served as Vice President to the Society: 1883 to 1887 and 1890 to 1892.[6] In 1886, he co-founded the New [Spalding Club](/source/Spalding_Club).[7] In 1887 the University of Edinburgh awarded him an honorary doctorate ([LLD](/source/LLD)). Irvine died at [Drum Castle](/source/Drum_Castle) on 4 April 1892, "the head of one of the oldest families in Great Britain".[8] ## Family In 1848 Irvine married Anna Margaretta Forbes-Leslie, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Leslie of [Rothienorman](/source/Rothienorman), a noted amateur archaeologist. Their children were Alexander Charles Quentin Hamilton Irvine, and Francis Hugh Forbes Irvine, 21st Laird of Drum. ## Artistic recognition Irvine was painted by [George Reid PRSA](/source/George_Reid_(Scottish_artist)). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Reference at cambridge.org"](https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0370164600052184). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Reference at www.cambridge.org"](https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0370164600052184). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Drum Castle"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230208232152/http://irvinehistory.com/Drum_Castle/Drum_Castle.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.irvinehistory.com/Drum_Castle/Drum_Castle.htm) on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Drum Castle"](https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200334097-drum-castle-drumoak#.Xi3noWhKhPY). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Drum Castle Chapel"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200126192936/http://www.scottishchurches.org.uk/sites/site/id/478/name/Drum%2BCastle%2BChapel%2BDrumoak%2BGrampian). Archived from [the original](http://www.scottishchurches.org.uk/sites/site/id/478/name/Drum+Castle+Chapel+Drumoak+Grampian) on 26 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002*](https://web.archive.org/web/20130124115814/http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf) (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-902-198-84-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-902-198-84-X). Archived from [the original](https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf) (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Reference at www.cambridge.org"](https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0370164600052184). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Personalities"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217778807). *[Glen Innes Examiner and General Advertiser](/source/Glen_Innes_Examiner_and_General_Advertiser)*. Vol. XIX, no. 1029. New South Wales, Australia. 19 July 1892. p. 2 (Supplement to the Glen Innes Examiner). Retrieved 16 May 2026 – via National Library of Australia. Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National United States Israel Other Open Library Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alexander Forbes Irvine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Forbes_Irvine) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Forbes_Irvine?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.