He was born in 1873 the son of Jean Carmichael and Thomas MacRobert. He was educated at
Paisley Grammar School, going on to study law at the
University of Edinburgh and then the
University of Glasgow graduating MA in 1895 and LLB in 1897. He became an
advocate in 1897. In 1910 he was living at 86 Great King Street in
Edinburgh's New Town. He worked with the
Admiralty in 1917–18 and as an
Advocate Depute from 1919 to 1923. He was appointed
King's Counsel in 1919. He was
Sheriff of Forfar from 1923 to 1924. He was an unsuccessful parliamentary candidate for
Edinburgh Leith in 1922, and was elected for
East Renfrewshire in October 1924 holding the seat until his death. He was appointed
Solicitor General for Scotland in December 1925, and was promoted to serve as
Lord Advocate briefly from May 1929 to June 1929. He is buried in a line of law lords against the north wall of the 20th century extension to
Dean Cemetery in
Edinburgh, with his wife Emma Gentles. == References==