Sir Robert Anstruther, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Robert Anstruther, born in 1658, was an important Scottish politician. He came from Wrae, Linlithgow, and Balcaskie, Fife. He was known as the 1st Baronet, which is a special title of honor passed down through families. Sir Robert was a member of the Scottish Parliament for many years, from 1681 to 1707. After Scotland and England joined together, he also served in the British House of Commons from 1709 to 1710.
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Sir Robert's Early Life
Robert Anstruther was born in 1658. He was the third son of Sir Philip Anstruther, who was also a member of the Scottish Parliament. His mother was Christian Lumsden.
Sir Robert's Political Journey
Sir Robert Anstruther began his political career early. From 1681 to 1682, he was a representative for Anstruther Easter in the Scottish Parliament.
In 1684, he added the name Kinnear after his first wife, Sophia Kinnear, inherited her family's property. Sadly, Sophia passed away in 1686. He then married Jean Monteith in 1687.
Unlike his brother, Sir Robert supported King William's government. He worked on various local committees from 1689 to 1690. In 1691, he was given a role as a general receiver of supplies for the government.
In 1694, he received the special title of Baronet. This meant he was now called Sir Robert Anstruther, 1st Baronet. He was also involved in collecting taxes and managing official documents.
Even though he lost money in some business ventures, like the Darien scheme, he was able to buy a large estate called Balcaskie in 1698. He built a house there. Later, he married his third wife, Marian Preston.
Opposing the Union
In 1702, Sir Robert became a representative for Anstruther Wester. He was against the idea of Scotland and England joining together to form Great Britain. He even took part in protests against this plan in 1705.
When it came time to vote on the Union, he was often absent. When he did vote, it was usually against the Union. After the Union was formed in 1707, he lost his seat in Parliament and his government jobs.
Serving in the British Parliament
After Scotland and England officially united in 1707, a new Parliament was created in Great Britain. Sir Robert Anstruther was elected to this new Parliament in 1709. He represented the area of Fife. However, he only served for a short time and did not run for re-election in 1710.
Sir Robert's Later Life and Family
Sir Robert Anstruther passed away in March 1737. He had several children from his second and third marriages. One of his sons sadly died in a battle in 1715. Another son became a general in the army. Sir Robert was succeeded by his eldest son, Philip Anstruther, who became the 2nd Baronet.
