Evan Baillie
Encyclopedia
Evan Baillie was a British West Indes merchant, landowner and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1802 to 1812.
Baillie was the third son of Hugh Baillie of Dochfour and his wife Emilia Fraser daughter of Alexander Fraser of Inverness. His early life was obscure and he suffered "fatal neglect" in formal education. He entered the army in early life and served in part of the American war.
By the 1780s Baillie was established as West Indies merchant in Bristol
. It is not known if he went to the West Indies but he owned plantations there. He founded the firm of Evan Baillie, Son & Co in Bristol and became a common councilman for Bristol in 1785. He was Sheriff of Bristol for 1786 to 1787 but declined becoming mayor. In 1789 he was member of a committee of merchants to defend the slave trade. He was Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Bristol Volunteers in 1797 and Colonel in 1798.
On the death of his brother Alexander in 1798 Baillie succeeded to the family estates in Inverness-shire
. He was also partner in an Inverness hemp manufacturers and other businesses. He continued to purchase more land in Scotland as a result of concerns about the effects of the war with France and effects of abolition of slavery.
In 1802 Baillie became an alderman of Bristol in 1802. Also in 1802 he was elected unopposed as Member of Parliament
for Bristol
. He was unopposed again in 1806 and 1807. He noted how feeble were attempts in parliament to oppose slave trade abolition bill but he was not among those who made last stand against it. By 1811 he was suffering poor health and was concerned for his son Peter who died in 1812. He therefore decided not to stand in the 1812 election.
Baillie retired to Scotland and left the business operations to his sons. He resigned as alderman of Bristol in 1821 pleading old age, but survived to the age of 94.
Baillie married Mary Gurley, daughter of Peter Gurley of St. Vincent. Their sons Peter Baillie
and James Evan Baillie
both became Members of Parliament. Baillie's brother James Baillie was also an MP.
Baillie was the third son of Hugh Baillie of Dochfour and his wife Emilia Fraser daughter of Alexander Fraser of Inverness. His early life was obscure and he suffered "fatal neglect" in formal education. He entered the army in early life and served in part of the American war.
By the 1780s Baillie was established as West Indies merchant in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. It is not known if he went to the West Indies but he owned plantations there. He founded the firm of Evan Baillie, Son & Co in Bristol and became a common councilman for Bristol in 1785. He was Sheriff of Bristol for 1786 to 1787 but declined becoming mayor. In 1789 he was member of a committee of merchants to defend the slave trade. He was Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Bristol Volunteers in 1797 and Colonel in 1798.
On the death of his brother Alexander in 1798 Baillie succeeded to the family estates in Inverness-shire
Inverness-shire
The County of Inverness or Inverness-shire was a general purpose county of Scotland, with the burgh of Inverness as the county town, until 1975, when, under the Local Government Act 1973, the county area was divided between the two-tier Highland region and the unitary Western Isles. The Highland...
. He was also partner in an Inverness hemp manufacturers and other businesses. He continued to purchase more land in Scotland as a result of concerns about the effects of the war with France and effects of abolition of slavery.
In 1802 Baillie became an alderman of Bristol in 1802. Also in 1802 he was elected unopposed as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Bristol
Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol was a two member constituency, used to elect members to the House of Commons in the Parliaments of England , Great Britain and the United Kingdom . The constituency existed until Bristol was divided into single member constituencies in 1885.-Boundaries:The historic port city of Bristol, is...
. He was unopposed again in 1806 and 1807. He noted how feeble were attempts in parliament to oppose slave trade abolition bill but he was not among those who made last stand against it. By 1811 he was suffering poor health and was concerned for his son Peter who died in 1812. He therefore decided not to stand in the 1812 election.
Baillie retired to Scotland and left the business operations to his sons. He resigned as alderman of Bristol in 1821 pleading old age, but survived to the age of 94.
Baillie married Mary Gurley, daughter of Peter Gurley of St. Vincent. Their sons Peter Baillie
Peter Baillie
Peter Baillie was a British West Indies merchant, and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1807 to 1811....
and James Evan Baillie
James Evan Baillie
James Evan Baillie was a British West Indies merchant, landowner and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1813 and 1835....
both became Members of Parliament. Baillie's brother James Baillie was also an MP.