John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute facts for kids
John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute (born June 30, 1744 – died November 16, 1814) was an important British nobleman. He was also a diplomat and a politician. For many years, he was known as Lord Mount Stuart. He owned large coal fields and served in the British Parliament.
Growing Up: John Stuart's Early Life
John Stuart was born at Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute. His father was John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, who was even a Prime Minister of Great Britain! His mother was Mary Wortley Montagu.
John went to famous schools like Harrow School and Winchester College. Later, he studied at the University of Oxford. Around 1757, a well-known thinker named Adam Ferguson helped teach him.
Serving the Country: John Stuart's Political Roles
John Stuart started his political career in 1766. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for an area called Bossiney. He served in the House of Commons for about ten years.
In 1775, he tried to create a new law to set up a local army, called a militia, in Scotland. This law was debated but did not pass.
In 1776, he left the House of Commons. He was given a new title, Baron Cardiff. Even with this new title, many people still called him Lord Mount Stuart. He also held important local jobs. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan and later the Lord Lieutenant of Buteshire. These roles meant he was the King's main representative in those areas.
Lord Mount Stuart also worked as a diplomat. In 1779, he was sent to represent Britain in Turin. Later, in 1783, he became the ambassador to Spain. This meant he was Britain's top representative in Spain.
In 1792, he inherited his father's title and became The Earl of Bute. Then, in 1794, he received even higher honors. He was made Viscount Mountjoy, Earl of Windsor, and Marquess of Bute. He was also chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1799. This showed he was respected for his interest in science and knowledge.
John Stuart's Family Life
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John Stuart married Charlotte Hickman-Windsor in 1766. She was the daughter of Herbert Windsor, 2nd Viscount Windsor. John and Charlotte had seven sons and two daughters together. Some of their children included:
- John Stuart, Lord Mount Stuart (1767–1794)
- Lord Evelyn Stuart (1773–1842), who became a colonel in the army.
- Lady Charlotte Stuart (born around 1775 – died 1847)
- Lord Henry Stuart (1777–1809)
- Captain Lord William Stuart (1778–1814)
- Rear-Admiral Lord George Stuart (1780–1841)
Charlotte passed away in 1800. Later that same year, John married Frances Coutts. She was the daughter of a famous banker, Thomas Coutts. John and Frances had two more children:
- Lady Frances Stuart (died 1859)
- Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart (1803–1854)
John Stuart was a very wealthy man. His family owned a lot of land, especially land with coal.
