Charles Neaves, Lord Neaves

Charles Neaves, Lord Neaves FRSE (1800–1876) was a Scottish advocate, judge, theologian and writer. He served as Solicitor General (1852), as a judge of the Court of Session, the supreme court of Scotland (1854), and as Rector of the University of St Andrews (1872).

Neaves was known as one of the early analysts of the history of evolution, and is often quoted regarding the subjects of evolution and women's rights.

Neaves was born in Edinburgh in 1800, the son of Charles Neaves, a Forfar solicitor and clerk of the Justiciary Court in Edinburgh. Neaves was educated at the High School and Edinburgh University. He became a member of the Faculty of Advocates at age 22. He married Eliza Macdonald in 1835. They lived in a large Georgian townhouse at 47 Queen Street in Edinburgh's New Town.

From 1841 to 1845, he was Advocate Depute, and from 1845 to 1852 sheriff, of the Orkney and Shetland islands. He became Solicitor General for Scotland in 1853, Being succeeded by Robert Handyside, Lord Handyside. He served as a judge of the Court of Session from 1853 to 1858. From 1858 to his death, he was Lord of Justiciary, Scotland's supreme criminal court. Neaves lived the majority of his life in Edinburgh, but when associated with the Justiciary Court, he travelled to Glasgow thrice yearly and Lord Neaves (although elderly and almost without hearing capability by the 1875) acquired a reputation in Glascow as a man of justice and evenness.

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