Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton

Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton KT (5 November 1739 14 December 1819) was a Scottish peer, politician, and composer.[1]

Hugh Montgomerie
12th Earl of Eglinton
Hugh Montgomerie 12th Earl of Eglinton, circa 1780 Oil on canvas by John Singleton Copley
Tenure1769-1819
Other namesHugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield
Born(1739-11-05)5 November 1739
Died14 December 1819(1819-12-14) (aged 80)
NationalityScottish
LocalityAyrshire

Biography

Montgomerie was styled Lord Montgomerie from 1769. He sat as a Member of Parliament for Ayrshire off and on from 1780 to 1796. That year he became Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, a post he held until his death. In 1798, having previously succeeded to the earldom through his third cousin, he was elected a representative peer and moved to the House of Lords. On 15 February 1806, he was created Baron Ardrossan in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, enabling him to sit the Lords in his own right.[2] He was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1814.

As large ships were unable to reach Glasgow due to the silting of the River Clyde, Montgomerie promoted and partially funded the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal. However, funds ran out, and the canal was only constructed from Glasgow to Johnstone via Paisley.[2] The Glasgow terminus of the canal was at Port Eglinton. Though the wharf is now filled in, the neighbouring Eglinton Street still bears his name. Preparatory work on the canal from the new harbour created at Ardrossan was used as the basis for Glasgow Street, which is the main thoroughfare of the town.

Montgomerie was an amateur composer and cellist. His best-known work is the dance tune "Ayrshire Lasses," and other composers dedicated works to him, including Thomas Arne.[3]

Notes

  1. Also known as Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield (Gazetteer editor 2011)
  2. Henderson 1895.
  3. David Johnson. "12th Earl of Eglinton", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed 20 May 2006), grovemusic.com (subscription access).

References

  • Gazetteer editor (2011), Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield, The Gazetteer for Scotland, retrieved December 2012 Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  • Henderson, Thomas Finlayson (1894). "Montgomerie, Hugh (1739-1819)" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 38. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

Further reading

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Sir Adam Fergusson, Bt
Member of Parliament for Ayrshire
1780–1781
Succeeded by
Sir Adam Fergusson, Bt
Preceded by
Sir Adam Fergusson, Bt
Member of Parliament for Ayrshire
1784–1789
Succeeded by
William McDowall
Preceded by
Sir Adam Fergusson, Bt
Member of Parliament for Ayrshire
1796
Succeeded by
William Fullarton
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Earl of Eglinton
Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire
1796–1819
Succeeded by
The Earl of Glasgow
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron Ardrossan
1806–1819
Succeeded by
Archibald Montgomerie
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
Archibald Montgomerie
Earl of Eglinton
1796–1819
Succeeded by
Archibald Montgomerie
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