John_Shairp_(lawyer)
John Shairp (lawyer)
Scottish lawyer and businessman
John Schairp of Houston (died 1607) was a Scottish lawyer and businessman.
Schairp studied at the University of St Andrews for the church, but changed careers and became a lawyer. His practice included work for Edinburgh town council and many private clients.[1] He also lent money to aristocrats like John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis.[2]
Houston House is at Uphall in West Lothian. The lands were called Stathbrock when he bought them in 1569.[3] The lands were erected into a barony for Shairp, but he had to defend his ownership of the property from various claimants. Schairp completed a new Houston House which still stands.[4]
He gave a speech in Latin at the Entry of James VI into Edinburgh.[5]
On 12 July 1593 he acted as proxy for John Maitland of Thirlestane and his wife Jean Fleming when they resigned the barony of Musselburgh to Anne of Denmark.[6]
In 1604 he became involved in a commission to re-draft border law preparatory to the projected union between Scotland and England.[7]
He died in 1607.