Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hugh Montgomerie
|
|
|---|---|
Hugh Montgomerie 12th Earl of Eglinton, circa 1780 Oil on canvas by John Singleton Copley
|
|
| Born | 5 November 1739 |
| Died | 14 December 1819 (aged 80) |
| Title | 12th Earl of Eglinton |
| Tenure | 1769–1819 |
| Other names | Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Locality | Ayrshire |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanora Hamilton |
| Issue | 4 |
Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton (born November 5, 1739 – died December 14, 1819) was an important Scottish nobleman. He was also a soldier, a politician, and even a composer! He held the title of the 12th Earl of Eglinton.
A Life in Politics and War
Hugh Montgomerie was known as Lord Montgomerie starting in 1769. This was a special title used while his father was still alive. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayrshire. An MP is someone elected to represent their area in the country's government. He served as an MP for many years between 1780 and 1796.
In 1796, he became the Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire. This was a high-ranking job, like a local representative for the King or Queen. He kept this role until he passed away. In 1794, he helped create a special army group called the West Lowland Fencibles. These were soldiers raised for defense within Scotland. He was their colonel, meaning he was in charge.
In 1798, Hugh Montgomerie became the Earl of Eglinton. He was then chosen as a representative peer. This meant he could sit in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament. On February 15, 1806, he received another special title: Baron Ardrossan. This allowed him to sit in the House of Lords on his own. In 1814, he was given a very high honor, becoming a Knight of the Thistle.
Building a Canal
At that time, large ships found it hard to reach Glasgow because the River Clyde was too shallow. Hugh Montgomerie had a big idea to fix this problem. He helped start and pay for the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal.
However, they ran out of money before the canal was finished. It only went from Glasgow to Johnstone through Paisley. The part of the canal in Glasgow was called Port Eglinton, named after him. Even though the old dock is gone, a nearby street, Eglinton Street, still carries his name. The work done to plan the canal from Ardrossan was later used to create Glasgow Street, which is the main road in that town.
A Musical Talent
Hugh Montgomerie was also a talented musician. He played the cello and wrote music as a hobby. His most famous piece of music is a dance tune called "Ayrshire Lasses." Other famous composers, like Thomas Arne, even dedicated their music to him.
His Family
Hugh Montgomerie married Eleanora Hamilton around June 3, 1772. They had four children together:
- Maj.-Gen. the Hon. Archibald Montgomerie, Lord Montgomerie (born July 30, 1773 – died January 4, 1814)
- The Hon. Roger Montgomerie (died June 1799), who was an officer in the Royal Navy.
- Lady Jane Montgomerie (died February 23, 1860)
- Lady Lilias Montgomerie (died September 10, 1845)
