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| Single person record details
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Person code |
DS/UK/25064 |
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Family name |
Montgomerie |
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Territorial designation |
Earls of Eglinton |
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Activity |
The Montgomery (or Montgomerie) family can trace their predecessors back to Robert of Montgomery, to whom Walter, High Steward of Scotland granted the lands of Eaglesham in Renfrewshire in the latter half of the 12th century. His descendant, John Montgomery of Eaglesham, fought gallantly at the battle of Otterburn in 1388. He captured the leader of the English army, Sir Henry Percy (otherwise known as Hotspur) whose ransom served to pay for the construction of the castle of Polnoon. John acquired the baronies of Eglinton and Ardrossan through his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Hugh Eglinton of that ilk, a descendant of Bryce Eglinton who had acquired the lands of Eglinton from the community of Irvine, which lands were regranted in favour of his grandson, Rodolph, in 1205. John and Elizabeth had three sons, the youngest of which, Hugh, was killed at the battle of Otterburn (according to the ballad 'Chevy Chase'). His eldest son, Sir John Montgomerie of Eaglesham and Eglinton, also known as 'of Ardrossan', succeeded John and was succeeded in turn by his eldest son, Alexander, who was created Lord Montgomery by 1449. The succession then passed to his grandson, also Alexander.
Hugh, 3rd Lord Montgomery succeeded his father c1483 and was created 1st Earl of Eglinton (in the Scottish peerage) in 1507. He fought at the battle of Sauchieburn in 1488 on the side of the Prince, to become James IV, for which he was rewarded with the custody of Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran, and thereafter played a prominent in part in public affairs during the King's minority. He was awarded the bailliary of Cunninghame in 1499, which office had been held by his grandfather, but this award led to a feud with the Glencairn family. The earldom passed to Hugh's grandson. Hugh, 4th Earl of Eglinton succeeded in 1585 and was assassinated by a party of Cunninghams in 1586. His son, also Hugh, purchased the barony of Kilwinning in 1594 and by crown charter of resignation and novodamus the lordship and barony of Kilwinning and the lordship and earldom of Eglinton passed, after his death in 1612, to Sir Alexander Seton of Foulstruther. This grant was challenged later by King James VI but was finally confirmed in 1615, and the barony of Kilwinning, whose grant in 1594 was challenged by parliament in 1612 and granted to the 1st Lord Balfour of Burleigh, was purchased back for 8000 merks.
Hugh, 7th Earl of Eglinton (born 1613) succeeded to his father's lands but not to his opinions: he fought for the Royalist cause during the civil war, opposing his father at the battle of Marston Moor. Alexander, 10th Earl (1723-1769) caught Mungo Campbell, an excise officer, trespassing. Alexander was killed in the ensuing struggle and Mungo was convicted of murder (although committing suicide before his execution). Alexander was succeeded by his brother, Archibald, 11th Earl, MP for Ayr in 1761, who died without male heirs, when the titles and estates devolved on his cousin, Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield.
Hugh Montgomery, 12th Earl, (1739-1819) rebuilt Eglinton Castle in 1798 and also introduced schemes for the construction of Ardrossan Harbour and its link to Glasgow by the Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal (eventually part of the Glasgow and South Western Railway). Telford and Rennie were involved in the designs from 1806, but the project went massively over budget and work stopped in 1815. The harbour works were resumed under Archibald, 13th Earl (1812-1861) and two tidal basins and a wet dock were constructed. In 1886 the Ardrossan Harbour Company was formed, with Lord Eglinton holding two thirds of the shares; an additional dock (the 'Eglinton') and another tidal basin were built. Archibald also organised the Eglinton Tournament in August 1839, a pageant in which Prince Louis Napoleon, afterwards Emperor of France, performed. Archibald was also served heir to the 4th Earl of Winton in the Scottish peerage in 1840 and was created Earl of Winton, Baron Seton and Tranent in the UK peerage in 1859.
Archibald was succeeded in turn by two of his sons and then by his grandson, Archibald Seton Montgomery, 16th Earl of Eglinton (1880-1945) who was mentioned in dispatches in the first World War. His son, Archibald Montgomery, 17th Earl (1914-66) served in the Second World War. The present head of the family is Archibald, 18th Earl of Eglinton and 6th Earl of Winton (1939-). |
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Dates |
14th-20th century |
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Epithet |
family |
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Associated records |
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| GD3 | Papers of the Montgomerie Family, Earls of Eglinton | c1177-1931 |
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