Sir Hew Dalrymple was a successful Scottish judge and politician. He was also the third son of the eminent lawyer and statesman James Dalrymple, whom he succeeded as Lord President of the Court of Session in 1698. Born in East Lothian, he studied in Edinburgh and Leiden before being admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1677. His legal career flourished, although he was briefly imprisoned in 1684 for challenging a colleague to a duel. Dalrymple’s political career took off when he was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1690. He strongly supported the Union and helped negotiate the Treaty of 1707. After the Union, Dalrymple was able to spend more time in the Court of Session, of which he remained president until his death.