Sir James Montgomery, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir James Montgomery, 1st Baronet Stanhope (born 1721 – died 1803) was an important Scottish lawyer, judge, and politician. He was also a large landowner who loved improving his farms. In 1783, he helped start the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a group for smart people in Scotland.
Early Life and Career
James Montgomery was born in October 1721 at Macbie Hill in Peeblesshire, Scotland. His father, William Montgomery, was a local sheriff, which is like a chief law officer. James went to school in West Linton and then studied law at the University of Edinburgh.
After finishing his studies, he became a lawyer in 1743. In 1748, he became the first sheriff of Peebles under a new system. This was an important job that helped keep law and order in the area.
In 1760, James became a top government lawyer called the Solicitor General for Scotland. He later became the only Solicitor General in 1764. Then, in 1766, he was promoted to Lord Advocate, which is the main legal advisor to the Scottish government. At the same time, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Dumfries Burghs.
Helping Farmers and Landowners
In 1768, James became the MP for Peeblesshire. He was known as a very good lawyer and someone who wanted to make land better. He focused on a big problem with land ownership called "entails." These were old rules that made it hard for landowners to improve their land or sell parts of it.
In 1770, James introduced a new law to help with this. This law made it easier for landowners to improve their land, lease it out, or even exchange parts of it, even with the old "entail" rules. This was a very important change for farming in Scotland.
After this law passed, James didn't take as much part in Parliament. In 1775, he became a senior judge called the Lord Chief Baron of the Scottish Exchequer. He stopped being a judge in 1801. In July 1801, he was given a special title and became a Baronet.
Land and Legacy
Like his father, James was very good at farming. In 1763, he bought a farm called Blair Bog, which he renamed 'The Whim.' This became his favorite home. In 1767, he bought a large estate called Stanhope and Stobo for a lot of money. These lands had been taken by the government because their previous owner was involved in the Jacobite rising of 1745.
James spent most of his time in the countryside. He used new and better farming methods and helped build the road between Peebles and Edinburgh in 1770. Because of all his efforts to improve the area, people called him 'The Father of the County.'
Sir James Montgomery passed away at Stobo on April 2, 1803. He is buried in the churchyard at Stobo.
Family Life
James Montgomery married Margaret Scot. They had four sons and three daughters:
- William (who passed away before his father)
- Margaret
- James (who became the next Baronet)
- Archibald Charles
- Robert
- Barbara
- Anne
Sir James Montgomery and his wife, Margaret, are buried together at Stobo Kirk near Peebles. Their burial place has a unique wall made of yew hedges.
