Maidment, James (1795 -1879)

James Maidment was born in London about 1795, the son of a solicitor. Called to the Scottish bar in 1817, he soon made himself a reputation in cases involving genealogical research. A friend of Sir Walter Scott and Charles Kirkpatrick Sharp, he edited works for The Bannantyne, Maitland and Abbotsford Clubs. He also wrote a Court of Session Garland, and edited a Book of Scottish Pasquils and Scottish ballads and songs (Edinburgh, 1859) among many others. He died in Edinburgh 24 October 1879. A portion of his library was sold during his lifetime at auction by Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge in London 22 May 1869 and the remainder after his death by Messrs T. Champan & Son 27 April 1880 in Edinburgh, the sale lasting fifteen days.