Ramsay baronets

There have been five baronetcies created for members of Clan Ramsay, four in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. The baronetcy in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom is extant as of 2020.

The Ramsay Baronetcy, of Balmaine in the County of Kincardine, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 3 September 1625 for Gilbert Ramsay, the son of David Ramsay (died 1636) and Margaret Ogilvie, daughter of Sir Gilbert Ogilvie of Ogilvie.[1] David Ramsay was MP for Kincardineshire in the Parliament of Scotland and the grandson of John Ramsay, Lord Bothwell. The fourth Baronet was one of the Scottish representatives to the 1st Parliament of Great Britain and subsequently sat for Kincardineshire in the British Parliament. The fifth and sixth Baronets also represented Kincardineshire in the House of Commons. The latter assumed the additional surname of Irvine. Alexander Ramsay-Irvine, the 6th Baronet, died without sons 11 February 1806, at which point the Nova Scotia baronetcy either became extinct or dormant (though two relatives styled themselves as the next baronet, without proving parentage).[2]

The Ramsay Baronetcy, of Whitehill in the County of Edinburgh, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 2 June 1665 for John Ramsay.) [3] The title became extinct on the death of the fifth Baronet in 1744.[4]

The Ramsay Baronetcy, of Bamff in the County of Perth, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 3 December 1666 for Gilbert Ramsay.) [5] The title became extinct on the death of the twelfth Baronet in 1986.[6]

The Ramsay Baronetcy, of Abbotshall in the County of Fife, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 23 June 1669 for Andrew Ramsay.) [7] The title became extinct on the death of the second Baronet in 1709.[4]

The Ramsay Baronetcy, of Balmain in the County of Kincardine, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 13 May 1806 for Alexander Ramsay. Alexander Burnett was the second son of Catherine Ramsay, the granddaughter of Sir Charles Ramsay, 3rd Baronet of Balmain of the earlier creation (1625) in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia, which was inherited by her brother, Sir Alexander Ramsay-Irvine, 6th Baronet. Catherine Ramsay married Sir Thomas Burnett of Leys, 6th Baronet, and their eldest son, Robert, inherited the Burnett baronetcy, while their second son, Alexander Burnett, was his maternal uncle's namesake and heir. Sir Alexander Ramsay, 6th Baronet bequeathed his estates to his nephew and the baronetcy was revived in favour of Burnett a few months after Sir Alexander's death, who changed his surname to Ramsay by royal licence.[2][6]

The second Baronet sat as Member of Parliament for MP for Kincardineshire. The third Baronet was Member of Parliament for Rochdale. The seventh and present Baronet is the presumed heir to the dormant Burnett Baronetcy of Leys.[2]

William Alexander Ramsay, eldest son of Captain Francis Ramsay, third son of the second Baronet, was a brigadier-general in the British Army. His son Sir Bertram Ramsay was an admiral in the Royal Navy.[2]