Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton

Hugh Montgomerie
Hugh Montgomerie 12th Earl of Eglinton, circa 1780 Oil on canvas by John Singleton Copley
Born	(1739-11-05)5 November 1739
Died
Title	12th Earl of Eglinton
Tenure	1769-1819
Other names	Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield
Nationality	Scottish
Locality	Ayrshire

Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton KT (5 November 1739 – 14 December 1819) was a Scottish peer, politician, and composer.

Biography

Montgomerie was styled Lord Montgomerie from 1769, and sat as a Member of Parliament for Ayrshire off and on from 1780 to 1796. That year he became Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, which post he held until his death. In 1798, having previously succeeded to the earldom through his third cousin, he was elected a representative peer and moved to the House of Lords. On 15 February 1806, he was created Baron Ardrossan in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, enabling him to sit the Lords in his own right. He was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1814.

As large ships were unable to reach Glasgow due to silting of the River Clyde, Montgomerie promoted and partially funded the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal. However funds ran out and the canal was only constructed from Glasgow to Johnstone via Paisley. The Glasgow terminus of the canal was at Port Eglinton. Though the wharf is now filled in, the neighbouring Eglinton Street still bears his name. Preparatory work on the canal from the new harbour created at Ardrossan was used as the basis for Glasgow Street, which is the main thoroughfare of the town.

Montgomerie was an amateur composer and cellist. His best known work is the dance tune "Ayrshire Lasses", and other composers dedicated works to him, including Thomas Arne.

References

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Further reading

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• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Eglinton

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Sir Adam Fergusson, Bt	Member of Parliament for Ayrshire 1780–1781	Succeeded by Sir Adam Fergusson, Bt
Preceded by Sir Adam Fergusson, Bt	Member of Parliament for Ayrshire 1784–1789	Succeeded by William MacDowall
Preceded by Sir Adam Fergusson, Bt	Member of Parliament for Ayrshire 1796	Succeeded by William Fullarton
Honorary titles
Preceded by The Earl of Eglinton	Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire 1796–1819	Succeeded by The Earl of Glasgow
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation	Baron Ardrossan 1806–1819	Succeeded by Archibald Montgomerie
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Archibald Montgomerie	Earl of Eglinton 1796–1819	Succeeded by Archibald Montgomerie