Background
He was the oldest son of the judge Sir Gilbert Elliot, 1st Baronet, of Minto (c 1650–1718).
He was the oldest son of the judge Sir Gilbert Elliot, 1st Baronet, of Minto (c 1650–1718).
He studied law at the University of Utrecht and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1715.
From 1763 until his death 3 years later, he was Lord Justice Clerk, the second most senior judge in Scotland. In June 1726 he was made a judge of the Court of Session, taking the judicial title Lord Minto. He became a Lord of Justiciary in 1733 and in 1761 Keeper of the Signet.
In 1763 he was promoted to Lord Justice Clerk.
He was survived by 9 children, including:
Sir Gilbert Elliot, 3rd Baronet (1722–1777), an advocate, politician
Jean Elliot (1727–1805), a poet
Andrew Elliot (1728–1797), a trader in British North America who served as acting colonial governor of the Province of New York in 1783
John Elliot (1732–1808), an admiral in the Royal Navy.
6th Parliament of Great Britain]
He was the Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Roxburghshire from 1722 to 1726.