James Carr-Boyle, 5th Earl of Glasgow facts for kids

James Carr-Boyle, 5th Earl of Glasgow (born April 10, 1792 – died March 11, 1869) was an important British naval officer and politician. From 1818 to 1843, he was known as Viscount of Kelburn. He inherited the title of Earl of Glasgow, which is a noble rank in the United Kingdom.

Early Life and Family

James Carr-Boyle was the son of George Boyle, 4th Earl of Glasgow, and Lady Augusta. In 1822, he added the surname Carr to his name. He married Georgina Ann Hay-Mackenzie in 1821. They lived at Hawkhead House in Paisley. He passed away in March 1869 at the age of 76. His half-brother, George, became the next Earl of Glasgow. Lady Glasgow died later, in March 1895.

Military and Political Roles

James Carr-Boyle had a busy career serving his country. He was a captain in the Royal Navy, which is the United Kingdom's navy.

He also worked in politics. From 1839 to 1843, he was a Member of Parliament for Ayrshire. A Member of Parliament is someone elected to represent an area in the UK government.

Later, from 1844 to 1869, he held the position of Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire. A Lord Lieutenant is a representative of the British monarch in a county or area.

His Love for Horse Racing

Lord Glasgow was very passionate about horse racing, a popular sport where horses compete on a track. However, he wasn't very successful at it. He didn't win much prize money or have many famous horses.

One of his unusual habits was that he refused to name his horses until they had won a race. This caused a lot of confusion for the people who worked with his horses! There's a story that before one race, he finally agreed to name three horses. Their names were "Give-Him-a-Name," "He-Hasn't-Got-a-Name," and "He-Isn't-Worth-a-Name."

He also preferred to breed horses from certain family lines, even if those lines hadn't produced many winners. Despite his challenges, his dedication to horse racing was a well-known part of his life.