Sir John Johnstone, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir John Johnstone, 1st Baronet (who passed away on September 30, 1711), was an important figure in Scottish history. He was an officer in the Scottish Army and also a politician.

He was the oldest son of Sir James Johnstone, who lived in Westerhall, Dumfriesshire. His father was also a member of the Parliament of Scotland, which was like the government of Scotland before it joined with England. His mother was Margaret, and her father was John Bannatyne from Corehouse. Sir John also had a younger brother, William Johnstone, who later became a Member of Parliament (MP).

Sir John's Early Career

Sir John Johnstone followed in his father's footsteps.

Becoming a Representative

In the year 1700, Sir John became a Shire Commissioner for Dumfriesshire. This meant he was chosen to represent his local area in the Scottish Parliament. He took over this role from his father. Around the same time, he was also given the special title of a Baronet. A Baronet is a hereditary title, which means it can be passed down through the family.

Supporting the Government

Sir John supported the "Court party" in Parliament. This was a group of politicians who usually supported the King or Queen and the government's plans. He hoped that by supporting them, he could help his career in the army grow. He was smart about who he worked with, sometimes changing his support between powerful leaders like Annandale and Queensberry.

The Union with England

A very big change happened in Scotland during Sir John's time.

Voting for the Union

After 1704, Sir John started supporting the Duke of Argyll. He consistently voted in favor of the Union with England. This was a huge decision that joined Scotland and England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Joining the British Parliament

Because of his support for the Union, Sir John Johnstone was chosen as one of the 45 Scottish representatives. These representatives went to the very first Parliament of Great Britain in 1707. This new Parliament was located in Westminster, which is in London.

Life in Westminster

Even though he was a representative, Sir John didn't make a big impact in the new Parliament in Westminster. When the next election came in 1708, he did not try to get elected again for Dumfriesshire. Instead, his brother, William, took his place and became the MP for that area.

Military Career and Legacy

Sir John Johnstone continued his military career.

Rising Through the Ranks

By 1711, Sir John had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the army. This was a significant achievement, showing his dedication and skill as a soldier.

His Final Days

Sadly, Sir John Johnstone was seriously wounded during a battle called the Siege of Tournai. This was a military operation where an army surrounds a town or fortress to try and capture it. He passed away in September of that year because of his injuries.

Sir John had been married twice and had a daughter named Philadelphia. However, he did not have any sons. Because of this, his special title of Baronet and his family's lands (called estates) were passed on to his brother, William.