Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton

Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton - Quick Facts

Profile Overview of Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton

Colonel Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton, KT (5 November 1739 – 14 December 1819), styled Lord Montgomerie from 1769 to 1796, was a British politician, military officer and composer.

This profile of Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton covers Early Life and Family Background, Career and Rise to Fame and Personal Life.

Early Life and Family Background of Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton

Montgomerie was born on 5 November 1739. He was the son of Alexander Montgomerie (d. 1783) and Lillias Montgomery (1715–1783). Among his siblings were Lillias Montgomerie (wife of John Hamilton of Sundrum), Frances Montgomerie (wife of James Ritchie of Busbie and Craigton), Alexander Montgomerie (who married Elizabeth Taylor), Archibald Montgomerie (who married Marie Chantrey), Lt.-Gen. James Montgomerie (who married Harriet Elizabeth Jackson).

His paternal grandparents were Hugh Montgomerie (a grandson of the 6th Earl of Eglinton) and Katherine (née Arbuckle), widow of John Hamilton of Letham. His paternal grandparents were Sir Robert Montgomery, 5th Baronet and the former Frances Stirling (eldest daughter of Col. Francis Stirling).

Career and Rise to Fame of Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton

Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton 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 1794 he raised a fencible regiment, the West Lowland Fencibles of which he was colonel.

In 1798, having previously succeeded to the earldom through his third cousin, he was elected a Scottish 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. 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. But funds ran out, and the canal was only constructed from Glasgow to Johnstone via Paisley. 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.

In 1807, Montgomerie funded the lifeboat for Ardrossan harbour, operated by the Ardrossan Lifeboat Society between 1807 and c.1847.

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.

Personal Life

In c. 3 June 1772, Montgomerie married Eleanora Hamilton (c. 1742–1817), daughter of Robert Hamilton of Bourtreehill (the son of Hugh Hamilton of Clongall) and Jean Mitchell. Among her siblings were Jean Hamilton, who married George Lindsay-Crawford, 21st Earl of Crawford. Together, they had two sons, and two daughters:

Lady Eglinton died on 18 January 1817. Lord Eglinton died on 14 December 1819. As his eldest son predeceased him, he was succeeded in his titles by his grandson, Archibald Montgomerie.

Source: adapted from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Montgomerie%2C_12th_Earl_of_Eglinton), text available under CC BY-SA 4.0.