Sir Robert Gilmour, 1st Baronet

Gilmour joined the British Army when he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards on 25 January 1878. He served in the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, was promoted to lieutenant on 1 July 1881, and served in the Sudanese campaign 1884-85. Promotion to captain followed on 23 July 1890, and to major on 25 August 1896.[1] He served in the 2nd Battalion of the regiment in South Africa during the Second Boer War 1900-02. For his service in the war, he received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 29 November 1900,[2] and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the October 1902 South African honours list.[3] Following his return to the United Kingdom, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 28 October 1902,[4] and appointed in command of the 2nd battalion, Grenadier Guards.[5] He served as Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod from 1917 until his death.[6]

He was later a Captain of the Royal Company of Archers, and was on 29 July 1926 created a Baronet, of Liberton and Craigmillar in the County of Midlothian.

He lived in Inch House a large 17th-century house on the south side of Edinburgh.[7]

Gilmour married on 19 October 1889 Lady Susan Lygon (24 May 1870 – 28 January 1962), 2nd daughter of the 6th Earl of Beauchamp. They had four children:

• Sir John Little Gilmour, 2nd Bt. (1899–1977)
• Mary Gilmour (1890-1978), married Sir Hughe Montgomery Knatchbull-Hugessen
• Margaret Gilmour (b.1892), married Dugdale
• Grizel Gilmour (1894–1975) who married in 1919 Hon Arthur Oswald James Hope (1897–1958), who became 2nd Baron Rankeillour in 1949.