Career
A younger son of John Cockburn of Ormiston by his spouse Margaret Hepburn, Adam was retoured heir to his brother John in the family's ancient estate of Ormiston, East Lothian, on 28 December 1671. Sasine of the estates followed on 12 June 1672 on a Precept from Chancery.
He was Commissioner for Haddingtonshire at the Conventions of Estates in the years 1678, 1681, and 1689, and in Parliament of Scotland for the year 1690. He was nominated one of the Commissioners to treat on the Union of Parliaments, on 19 April 1689.
Adam Cockburn was appointed Lord Justice Clerk in place of Sir George Campbell of Cessnock on 28 November 1692 and at about the same time was sworn a Privy Councillor.
He was one of the Commissioners named to inquire into the Massacre of Glencoe on 28 May 1695, and became somewhat unpopular in some quarters because of the powers awarded to his position in order for him to reach conclusions in the matter. On 6 February 1699 he succeeded Lord Raith as Treasurer-depute of Scotland, which he retained until the accession of Queen Anne, when he was dismissed from all his offices.
He obtained a commission appointing him a second time Lord Justice Clerk dated 8 January 1705 and was at the same time appointed to succeed Lord Whitelaw as a Lord Ordinary in the Court of Session. He left the office of Lord Justice Clerk again in 1710 but retained his place as a Lord Ordinary until his death, in his 79th year.
He married (1) Susanna (b. 20 July 1657, Tyninghame), daughter of John Hamilton, 4th Earl of Haddington. They had several children, of whom notably the MP John Cockburn of Ormiston. Two of his daughters married baronets. He married (2) Anne (d.1721) daughter of Sir Patrick Houstoun, 1st Baronet of that Ilk. They had a daughter, Jean (1709 - 1792 Kelso, Scotland) who married William Walker.
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