He was born in
Brechin,
Forfarshire on 29 April 1766, the son of Margaret (née Smith) and Robert Gillies of Little Keithock. Adam was the younger brother of historian
John Gillies. From 1806, he was the
sheriff-depute of
Kincardineshire. From 1811 to 1842, he was a
Senator of the College of Justice, based in
Edinburgh. In the 1830s he is listed as living at 16 York Place in
Edinburgh's New Town. In the late 18th century he was a member of the
Crochallan Fencibles, a club which met at Dawney's Tavern on Anchor Close in Edinburgh. Gillies retired due to ill health in the summer of 1842. His position as Senator was filled by
Alexander Wood, Lord Wood. He died on 24 December 1842 at
Leamington Spa. His body was returned to
Edinburgh and he was buried in a private vault in the now sealed south-west section of
Greyfriars Kirkyard known as the
Covenanter's Prison. His wife Elizabeth lies with him. ==Family==