John Scott (British Army officer)
Major-general John Scott of Balcomie (bapt. 1725 – 7 December 1775) was a Scottish politician and senior British Army officer.
Life
He was born the son of David Scott (of Scotstarvit). He joined the British Army in 1741 as an ensign in the 12th Regiment of Foot and rose via different regiments to the rank of Major-general in 1770.
He served as Colonel of the 108th regiment of Foot from 1762 to 1763 and as Colonel of the 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot from 1763 to his death.
He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Caithness from 1754 to 1761, for Tain Burghs from 1761 to 1768, and for Fife from 1768 until his death in 1775.[1]
A successful gambler, he purchased Denmylne Castle in Fife in 1772.[2] Not requiring the castle itself he allowed it to fall into a state of disrepair.
He died in 1775.
Gambling
George Devol asserted that -
General Scott, the father-in-law of George Canning, made one of the largest winnings ever known. He won at White's one million dollars, owing to his sobriety and knowledge of the game of whist.[3]
Family
On 5 November 1770, he married Lady Mary Hay, daughter of the Earl of Errol, then 16 years old; they were divorced in 1771. It is mentioned in one source that she eloped with another man.[4]
He married secondly, on 5 June 1773 Margaret, daughter of Robert Dundas, of Arniston, the younger.[5] They had three daughters:
- Henrietta, born 1774, who married William Bentinck, 4th Duke of Portland;
- Lucy, born 28 March 1775, who married Francis Stuart, 10th Earl of Moray;[6]
- Joan, born 15 March 1776 (three months after her father's death), who married George Canning.
References
- ↑ Haden-Guest, Edith (1964). L. Namier; J. Brooke, eds. "SCOTT, John (1725-75), of Balcomie, Fife". The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790. Boydell and Brewer. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ↑ "Denmylne Castle, Fife | By Scotland Channel". Scotland.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
- ↑ George Devol, Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi, p. 297
- ↑ Alienated Affections: The Scottish Experience of Divorce and Separation ... - Leah Leneman - Google Books. Books.google.co.uk. 2005-08-25. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
- ↑ ODNB article on Dundas
- ↑ The Gentleman's Magazine. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
External links
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant alternating constituency Title last held by Alexander Brodie(to 1747) |
Member of Parliament for Caithness 1754–1761 |
Vacant alternating constituency Title next held by Viscount Fortrose(from 1768) |
| Preceded by Sir Harry Munro, 7th Bt |
Member of Parliament for Tain Burghs 1761–1768 |
Succeeded by Alexander Mackay |
| Preceded by James Wemyss |
Member of Parliament for Fife 1768–1775 |
Succeeded by James Townsend Oswald |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by Edward Sandford |
Colonel of the 26th Regiment of Foot 1763–1775 |
Succeeded by Lord Adam Gordon |