Francis Montgomerie facts for kids
Francis Montgomerie (born around 1645, died around 1728) was an important Scottish politician. He came from Giffen Castle in Ayrshire. He served in the Scottish Parliament for many years. Later, he also became a member of the British Parliament.
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A Life in Scottish Politics
Francis Montgomerie was the second son of Hugh Montgomerie, who was the 7th Earl of Eglinton. His mother was Lady Mary Leslie. Francis studied at Glasgow University in 1665.
Early Political Roles
In 1689, Francis became a representative for Ayrshire in the Scottish Parliament. He was part of the Scottish Privy Council from 1692 to 1708. This council helped the King or Queen govern Scotland.
In 1695, Francis helped start the Company of Scotland. This company aimed to set up new trade routes and colonies. He also became one of its directors. That same year, he helped check the government's money accounts. In 1696, he was made Governor of Dumbarton Castle. He also became a freeman of Dumbarton, which gave him special rights there.
Francis continued to hold important roles. In 1698, he checked accounts for the navy. In 1701 and 1702, he was a special judge for the Highlands. From 1703 to 1708, he worked for the Scottish Treasury, managing government money.
The Darien Scheme and Union
Francis Montgomerie was a major investor in the Company of Scotland. The company tried to create a Scottish colony in Panama, known as the Darien scheme. This plan failed, and Francis lost a lot of money.
His signature is on the Act of Union 1707. This important document joined the parliaments of Scotland and England. The Act of Union also included money to pay back the people who lost money in the Darien scheme. This helped Francis get some of his money back. However, he lost his senior roles in the Scottish Parliament after the union.
In 1697, he was involved in investigations related to Christian Shaw.
Serving in the British Parliament
After the union, Francis Montgomerie became one of the first Scottish representatives in the new Parliament of Great Britain in 1707. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayrshire in 1708.
In the 1710 election, Francis decided not to run again. Instead, his son, John Montgomerie, ran and became the new MP for Ayrshire.
The exact year Francis Montgomerie died is not known. However, it was before 1725, when his family's estate, Giffen, was sold. He had two sons and two daughters.
Family Life
Francis Montgomerie married twice. His first wife was Margaret Leslie. She was his cousin. They married in 1673. Margaret died about a year later in 1674.
In 1679, he married his second wife, Elizabeth Sinclair. She was the daughter of Sir Robert Sinclair. Elizabeth was also the widow of Sir James Primrose.
Francis Montgomerie's Children
Francis and his wives had several children:
- Lt Col John Montgomerie
- Col Alexander Montgomerie, who fought in the Battle of Almansa
- Elizabeth Montgomerie, who married Col Patrick Ogilvy
