Philip Anstruther (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Anstruther
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Port Mahon, Menorca; an important British naval base, Anstruther's period as Lieutenant-Governor was marked by disputes and led to a Parliamentary investigation
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| Member of Parliament for Anstruther Burghs |
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| In office 1747–1754 |
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| Lieutenant Governor of Menorca | |
| In office 1733–1747 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1682 Airdrie House, Fife |
| Died | 11 November 1760 (aged 80) Airdrie House, Fife |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Political party | Whig |
| Relations | Sir John Anstruther, 2nd Baronet |
| Occupation | Soldier and politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain |
| Branch/service | Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant General 1745 |
| Unit | Colonel; 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot 1720-1760 |
Philip Anstruther (born 1682 – died 1760) was an important figure from Scotland. He was a professional soldier and a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the government. Philip Anstruther served as an MP for many years, from 1715 to 1754. He also held a key position as the Lieutenant Governor of Menorca. This was a British naval base on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. His time in Menorca led to some disagreements and investigations.
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About Philip Anstruther
Philip Anstruther was born in 1682. He was the only son of Sir James Anstruther. His father was a lawyer and worked for the Scottish Parliament. Philip's father passed away in the same year Philip was born. The family lived at Airdrie House in Fife, Scotland.
Philip Anstruther never married. He passed away on November 11, 1760. He left his home and money to his cousin, Sir John Anstruther, 2nd Baronet.
His Career and Public Life
Philip Anstruther had a long career as a soldier and politician. Not much is known about his early military service. It is unclear if he ever fought in battles. In 1710, he became a Captain in the Foot Guards. These jobs were often in London and did not always require active military duty.
Military Role
In 1720, Philip Anstruther bought the title of Colonel for the Cameronians. He kept this title until he died. Back then, military ranks and regiments could be bought and sold. This meant that high-ranking officers did not always have to be on active duty.
Serving in Parliament
The Anstruther family was very important in Fife. Philip's cousin, Sir John Anstruther, controlled the local voting area called Anstruther Burghs. In 1715, Sir John became an MP for Fife. Philip then took over as MP for Anstruther Burghs. He held this position until 1741.
Philip Anstruther did not vote often in Parliament. In 1737, he was the only Scottish MP to support the government. They wanted to punish Edinburgh after the Porteous Riots. This made him very unpopular with other Scottish people.
Governing Menorca
In 1733, Philip Anstruther was made Lieutenant Governor of Menorca. Menorca was an important island for the British Navy. It was a key base in the Mediterranean Sea. The British had taken it from Spain in 1708.
Anstruther did not spend much time in Menorca. This was not unusual for the time. However, Menorca was very important for controlling the western Mediterranean. Being away from duty was a big problem there. After he lost his MP seat in 1741, Anstruther had to explain his long absence. He admitted he had not done his duty. But he was not officially punished.
Challenges and Rivalries
When Anstruther returned to Menorca in 1742, he accused his assistant, Henry Erskine, of plotting against him. Erskine was found innocent. He became a strong political enemy of Anstruther.
Later, MPs were not allowed to hold military commands overseas. So, Anstruther resigned as Lieutenant Governor. He was elected as MP for Anstruther Burghs again in 1747. However, he spent a lot of time defending his actions in Menorca. A report from the Privy Council criticized him heavily.
Henry Erskine, now an MP himself, also attacked Anstruther in Parliament. Erskine wanted revenge. In the 1754 election, Erskine ran against Anstruther in Anstruther Burghs. Erskine won the election. This ended Philip Anstruther's political career.
