Sir Alexander Cumming, 1st Baronet facts for kids
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Sir Alexander Cumming (around 1670–1725) was an important Scottish landowner and a politician. He was known as a Tory, which was a political group at the time. He served in the British Parliament, called the House of Commons, for many years, from 1709 to 1722. He came from a place called Culter in Aberdeen.
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Sir Alexander Cumming's Life
Early Life and Family
Alexander Cumming was born around 1670. His father was also named Alexander Cumming. His mother was Helen Allardice. He grew up in Culter, Scotland.
Around 1690, he married Elizabeth Swinton. She was the daughter of Sir Alexander Swinton. Later, in 1710, after Elizabeth passed away, he married Elizabeth Dennis. He had children with both of his wives.
A Career in Law and Politics
Sir Alexander studied law and became a lawyer in 1691. He even went to study in Holland for a while. In 1695, he was given a special title: Baronet of Nova Scotia. This meant he was part of a group of important people.
He worked as a judge in the Highlands of Scotland in 1701 and 1703. He also served in the military as a captain from 1702 to 1704. From 1705 to 1711, he helped protect Scottish business rights in other countries.
Serving in Parliament
In 1709, Sir Alexander was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP). This meant he represented the area of Aberdeenshire in the House of Commons. The House of Commons is where laws are made for the country.
At first, he voted with the government on some issues. But because he was an Episcopalian (a type of Christian), he later joined the Tories. The Tories were a political group that often disagreed with the government at the time. He was re-elected to Parliament in 1710, 1713, and 1715. He often spoke out against the old government's mistakes. He did not run for Parliament again in 1722.
Later Life and Legacy
Sir Alexander Cumming passed away on February 7, 1725. He had faced financial difficulties due to a big financial event called the South Sea Bubble. This was a time when many people lost money in investments.
His son, also named Alexander, took over his title as the 2nd Baronet.
