Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Foulis, James (d.1549)
FOULIS, Sir JAMES (d. 1549), judge, was son and heir of James de Foulis, skinner, of Edinburgh, by his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir James Henderson of Fordell, Fifeshire, advocate to James IV. In 1519 he acquired from the Master of Glencairn the lands of Colinton, from which his family afterwards took its description. He was chosen a lord of session 12 Nov. 1526, being then member of parliament for Edinburgh, and when the College of Senators was instituted was admitted a member of it 27 May 1532, having since 1527 been king's advocate conjointly with but subordinate to Sir Adam Otterburn. In 1529 he had been private secretary to James V. From the first he was clerk register of the college, and as such was present in parliament in most years from 1535 to 1546. As such officer he was charged by license of parliament to cause the acts of the parliament to be printed by any person he should choose. From 1532 to 1546 he was a commissioner for holding parliament, and was a member of the secret council in 1542. In 1543 he was a commissioner to negotiate a marriage between Mary and Prince Edward. He was knighted in 1539, was succeeded by Thomas Marjoribanks of Ratho, 8 Feb. 1548, and died before 4 Feb. 1549. By his wife, Catherine Brown, he was father of Henry Foulis, depute-marishal, whose son James was grandfather of Sir James Foulis, lord Colinton [q. v.]
[Acts Scots Parl.; Acts of Sederunt; Brunton and Haig's Senators; Omond's Lord Advocates, i. 12; Nisbet's Heraldry, Append. 28; Douglas's Baronage; Nichols's Lit. Illustr. iv. 238; Burke's Baronetage.]