Sir Alexander Reid, 2nd Baronet facts for kids

Sir Alexander Reid, 2nd Baronet, was a Scottish laird (a landowner, like a lord of the land) and a politician from the area of Aberdeenshire. He was a member of the House of Commons of Great Britain (a part of the British Parliament) from 1710 to 1713. He was known for his short time in Parliament.

Early Life and Family

Alexander Reid was the oldest son of Sir John Reid, 1st Baronet. His family lived in Barra, Aberdeenshire. His mother, Marion, was the daughter of John Abercromby from Banffshire.

Education and Marriage

Alexander went to Marischal College at Aberdeen University from 1698 to 1702. This was a big step for his education. In 1705, he married Agnes Ogilvy. She was the daughter of Sir Alexander Ogilvy, 1st Baronet. Alexander and Agnes had two sons.

Stepping into Politics

By 1710, Alexander Reid became a burgess of Kintore. A burgess was a citizen with special rights, often involved in town government. He was also Kintore's commissioner for the 1710 British general election. A commissioner represented the town.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

During the 1710 election, Alexander used his position to vote for himself. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Elgin Burghs. He won this seat with the help of Lord Seafield.

Political Challenges

In the next election in 1713, Lord Seafield's influence in Elgin Burghs was not as strong. This meant Alexander Reid faced a tougher challenge.

Election Defeats

Alexander Reid was defeated in 1713 by James Murray. Murray was a Jacobite, someone who supported the return of the Stuart royal family to the throne. Reid also tried to win a seat in Aberdeenshire. However, he lost there too after a very competitive election. After these defeats, he never ran for Parliament again.

Becoming a Baronet

Alexander Reid's father, Sir John, passed away sometime after 1722. After his father's death, Alexander became the 2nd Baronet. This meant he inherited the title and position in the Reid baronetcy.