Sir John Heron-Maxwell, 4th Baronet facts for kids
Sir John Shaw Stewart Heron-Maxwell, 4th Baronet (born June 29, 1772 – died January 29, 1830), was a Scottish officer in the British Army. He was also a politician. Until 1803, he was known as John Maxwell.
Life Story
John Maxwell was the fourth son of Sir William Maxwell, who was the 3rd Baronet of Springkell. His mother, Margaret, was the daughter of Sir Michael Stewart, 3rd Baronet.
Joining the Army
In 1788, John joined the army. He started as an Ensign, which is a very junior officer rank. He was part of the 68th Foot regiment. He worked his way up through the ranks. By 1797, he became a Lieutenant Colonel. He was promoted to Colonel in 1805 and then to Lieutenant General in 1819. He took a break from full-time army work in 1802 but returned to service in 1814.
New Name and Inheritance
In 1802, John married Mary Heron. She was the only surviving child of Patrick Heron. Her father was important because he helped start the Ayr Bank. He was also a Member of Parliament (MP). When Patrick Heron died in 1803, Mary inherited his large estates. Because of this, John changed his name to Heron-Maxwell. This was a way to honor his wife's family and their new inheritance.
The next year, in 1804, John's own father passed away. As the oldest son who was still alive, John inherited more wealth. He also became the 4th Baronet. A Baronet is a special title that is passed down through families, similar to a knight but hereditary.
Becoming a Politician
After gaining his new title and wealth, John wanted to become a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected to represent people in the country's government. He asked his friend, Lord Dalkeith, for help. Lord Dalkeith's father, the Duke of Buccleuch, was very powerful. The Duke owned a large estate called Drumlanrig in Dumfriesshire. This gave him a lot of influence over who was elected in the Dumfries area.
John Heron-Maxwell got his chance in the 1807 general election. He was elected as the MP for Dumfries Burghs without anyone running against him. While he was an MP, he wasn't known for speaking or voting much in the House of Commons. He decided to step down from Parliament in the 1812 election.
Family
John and Mary Heron-Maxwell had a daughter named Jane Stuart Heron Maxwell. She was born in 1806 and lived until 1886. She later married a man named John Shaw Stewart.
