SON of the late Mr. James France, Logie Cottage, Stirlingshire, was born in 1839, and received his education at Bridge of Allan and at Glasgow University. He also studied Commercial Law at Anderson's College under the late Sheriff Galbraith. As a law student he gained the Glasgow Procurators' Essay Prize in Conveyancing, and the Crum Gold Medal in Commercial Law. In 1859 he entered the office of Messrs. Howie & Lockhart, writers, Glasgow; in 1866 he became a member of the Glasgow Faculty of Procurators ; in 1867 he was President of the Glasgow Juridical Society ; and in the same year he began to practise his profession.
    Business came early to Mr. France, and increased rapidly, firms of high standing employing him to attend to their interests in the courts and in arbitrations. He became a partner in the well-known firm of Bannatyne, Kirkwood, France & Co., writers, Glasgow, in 1871, shortly after the death of the senior partner of that firm, Dr. Andrew Bannatyne, - his co-partners being Dr. Anderson Kirkwood and Mr. William McJannet, both now dead, and Mr. Mark Bannatyne. For many years his professional engagements at home and abroad have left him little time for public work or more congenial pursuits.

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