Francis Charteris (1749–1808)
Encyclopedia
Francis Charteris was a Scottish Member of Parliament.
He was the only son of the Hon. Francis Charteris, second son of James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss
. The fifth Earl's eldest son David Wemyss, Lord Elcho had been attainted
for his part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745
so after the Earl's death in 1756 the earldom
became forfeit.
Charteris was elected to Parliament for the Haddington district of burghs
in 1780. From 1784 he was in opposition to the government of William Pitt the Younger
.
In 1787 Charteris' uncle Lord Elcho (who but for his attainder would have been 6th Earl of Wemyss) died. As Charteris' father had not been attainted himself, he assumed the title as 7th Earl of Wemyss, with Charteris assuming the title Lord Elcho. At the time eldest sons of Scottish peers
were not allowed to represent Scottish constituencies in Parliament
, and after a debate on the matter Charteris had to vacate his seat. Although it was later established that the Earldom of Wemyss remained forfeit and his father was not after all a Scottish peer, Charteris did not attempt to re-enter Parliament.
Francis Charteris married in 1771 Susan, daughter of Anthony Keck and granddaughter of James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton. They had one son and four daughters:
He was the only son of the Hon. Francis Charteris, second son of James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss
James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss
James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss was the son of David Wemyss, 4th Earl of Wemyss.He was key to securing his father-in-law's release from Newgate after he was sentenced to hang for the capital felony of rape....
. The fifth Earl's eldest son David Wemyss, Lord Elcho had been attainted
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
for his part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745
Jacobite Rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745, often referred to as "The 'Forty-Five," was the attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for the exiled House of Stuart. The rising occurred during the War of the Austrian Succession when most of the British Army was on the European continent...
so after the Earl's death in 1756 the earldom
Earl of Wemyss
Earl of Wemyss and Earl of March are two titles in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1633 and 1697 respectively, that have been held by a joint holder since 1826. The Scottish Wemyss family had possessed the lands of Wemyss in Fife since the 12th century. In 1625 John Wemyss was created a...
became forfeit.
Charteris was elected to Parliament for the Haddington district of burghs
Haddington Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Haddington Burghs was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1885...
in 1780. From 1784 he was in opposition to the government of William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
.
In 1787 Charteris' uncle Lord Elcho (who but for his attainder would have been 6th Earl of Wemyss) died. As Charteris' father had not been attainted himself, he assumed the title as 7th Earl of Wemyss, with Charteris assuming the title Lord Elcho. At the time eldest sons of Scottish peers
Master (Peerage of Scotland)
The heir-apparent or heir presumptive to a Scottish peerage is known as a Master, or Mistress if the heir is female.The heir's style is The Master of [Peerage] or The Mistress of [Peerage]. If the master is an heir-apparent, and the peerage has subsidiary titles that could be used as a courtesy...
were not allowed to represent Scottish constituencies in Parliament
Scottish Westminster constituencies
Scottish Westminster constituencies were Scottish constituencies of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain, normally at the Palace of Westminster, from 1708 to 1801, and have been constituencies of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, also at Westminster,...
, and after a debate on the matter Charteris had to vacate his seat. Although it was later established that the Earldom of Wemyss remained forfeit and his father was not after all a Scottish peer, Charteris did not attempt to re-enter Parliament.
Francis Charteris married in 1771 Susan, daughter of Anthony Keck and granddaughter of James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton. They had one son and four daughters:
- FrancisFrancis Douglas, 8th Earl of WemyssFrancis Wemyss Charteris Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss, 4th Earl of March , known as the Earl of March from 1810 to 1826 and as the Earl of Wemyss and March from 1826 to 1853, was a Scottish peer....
, who obtained a reversal of the attainder and became 8th Earl of Wemyss - Henrietta Charlotte Elizabeth, who married George Harry Grey, 6th Earl of Stamford
- Susan, who married Sir Henry Clinton
- Katharine, who married Edward Richard StewartEdward Richard StewartEdward Richard Stewart was a Scottish Member of Parliament in the British Parliament.He represented Wigtown Burghs from 1806 to 1809.- External links :...
- Augusta, who married Warner William Westenra, 2nd Baron Rossmore.