Hailes, LORD, the judicial title of Sir David Dalrymple, a well-known historical antiquary, born at Edinburgh, 28th October 1726. He was the grandson of Sir David Dalrymple, youngest, and reputedly the ablest son of the first Viscount Stair. He was educated at Eton and Utrecht, whence he returned to Scotland in 1746, to be called to the Scottish bar two years later. Here his success was highly respectable, but not astonishing, as his extensive learning, sound judgment, and great industry were marred by indifferent oratory. In 1766 he was appointed one of the judges of the Court of Session, and assumed the title by which he is chiefly known to posterity. In this office his accuracy, diligence, judicial impartiality, and dignified demeanour secured him the highest respect, and ten years later he was made a justiciary lord. At his country-seat of New Hailes, five miles from Edinburgh, he gave his leisure to uninterrupted literary activity, on behalf of religion and in elucidation of early Scottish history. And though his official duties were arduous, he found time to compose numerous works, surpassing in value those of many men whose lives have been wholly devoted to literature. He was much esteemed by Dr Johnson, and corresponded with some of the greatest men of his time. He died 29th November 1792. His funeral sermon was preached by 'Jupiter' Carlyle; his appearance remains to us in a characteristic portrait by Kay.
Among his books are Select Discourses, by John Smith of Cambridge (1756); A Discourse on the Gowrie Conspiracy (1757); Memorials and Letters relating to the History of Britain in the Reign of James I. (1762), a curious and interesting volume; The Works of the ever-memorable Mr John Hales of Eton (3 vols. 1765); Memorials and Letters relating to the History of Britain in the Reign of Charles I. (1766); Annals of Scotland from the Accession of Malcolm III., surnamed Canmore, to the Accession of Robert I. (1776); and Annals of Scotland from the Accession of Robert I., surnamed the Bruce, to the Accession of the House of Stuart (1779). The last two form one continuous matter-of-fact history of the greatest possible value, which Dr Johnson valued above the 'painted histories more to the taste of our age.' Besides these, Dalrymple wrote works on legal antiquities and ancient church history, edited old Scotch poems, and published sketches of the lives of various notable Scotchmen, as specimens of how a Biographia Scotica might be executed.