James Montgomerie
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General James Montgomerie (died 1829), M.P. for Ayrshire
1818-1829.
) and Lillias Montgomerie, making him the youngest brother of Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton
.
in 1774. The following year he transferred to the 19th Foot as adjutant, being promoted lieutenant in 1779. In 1780 he was promoted captain of a company in the 93rd Foot and sailed to the West Indies. His regiment returned to England soon after arrival, but Montgomerie remained in Jamaica
as a staff officer until 1781.
In 1783 he was one of the officers put on half pay as a captain in the 10th Foot, returning to active service with this regiment in Jamaica in 1786. From 1790 to 1793 he was in England on recruitment, and in 1794 was appointed an officer of the Home Staff with the rank of major.
In May 1795 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 6th West India Regiment, sailing to Martinique. From 1796 to 1798 he was civil and military commander of Saint Kitts
, with the 31st Light Dragoons. In 1798 he transferred to the 45th Foot in Dominica
, but returned to England due to ill health. He was promoted colonel by brevet
in 1802 and lieutenant-colonel of the 64th Foot in 1804, the same year being appointed to hold civil and military command at Tobago
. From much of the period from 1805 to 1808 he was acting governor of Demerara
. In 1808 he returned to Dominica, and in 1809 to England, where he received the rank of major-general.
In 1813 he was appointed colonel of the 74th Foot, promoted to lieutenant-general in 1814. In 1823 he was appointed colonel of the 30th Foot, retaining that command until his death.
, and was re-elected in 1820
and 1826
.
He spoke in Parliament on the issue of Sheriffs Depute in Scotland, on 29 March 1822.
He died at Bath, Somerset in May 1829.
Ayrshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Ayrshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1868, when it was divided into North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire....
1818-1829.
Family
James Montgomerie was the fifth son of Alexander Montgomerie of Coilsfield (near TarboltonTarbolton
Tarbolton is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland.- Meaning of place-name :Tarbolton has been suggested as having one of three meanings:...
) and Lillias Montgomerie, making him the youngest brother of Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton
Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton
Sir Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton KT was a Scottish peer, politician, and composer. He was the grandfather of Archibald Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton....
.
Military career
Appointed ensign in the 51st Foot in 1773, he joined the regiment at MinorcaMinorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
in 1774. The following year he transferred to the 19th Foot as adjutant, being promoted lieutenant in 1779. In 1780 he was promoted captain of a company in the 93rd Foot and sailed to the West Indies. His regiment returned to England soon after arrival, but Montgomerie remained in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
as a staff officer until 1781.
In 1783 he was one of the officers put on half pay as a captain in the 10th Foot, returning to active service with this regiment in Jamaica in 1786. From 1790 to 1793 he was in England on recruitment, and in 1794 was appointed an officer of the Home Staff with the rank of major.
In May 1795 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 6th West India Regiment, sailing to Martinique. From 1796 to 1798 he was civil and military commander of Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
, with the 31st Light Dragoons. In 1798 he transferred to the 45th Foot in Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
, but returned to England due to ill health. He was promoted colonel by brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
in 1802 and lieutenant-colonel of the 64th Foot in 1804, the same year being appointed to hold civil and military command at Tobago
Tobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
. From much of the period from 1805 to 1808 he was acting governor of Demerara
Demerara
Demerara was a region in South America in what is now Guyana that was colonised by the Dutch in 1611. The British invaded and captured the area in 1796...
. In 1808 he returned to Dominica, and in 1809 to England, where he received the rank of major-general.
In 1813 he was appointed colonel of the 74th Foot, promoted to lieutenant-general in 1814. In 1823 he was appointed colonel of the 30th Foot, retaining that command until his death.
Parliamentary career
Montgomerie was elected to parliament as M.P. for Ayrshire in the general election of 1818United Kingdom general election, 1818
The 1818 general election of the United Kingdom saw the Whigs gain a few seats, but the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool retained a majority of around 90 seats...
, and was re-elected in 1820
United Kingdom general election, 1820
The 1820 UK general election, held shortly after the Radical War in Scotland and the Cato Street Conspiracy. In this atmosphere, the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool were able to win a substantial majority over the Whigs....
and 1826
United Kingdom general election, 1826
The 1826 United Kingdom general election saw the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool win a substantial and increased majority over the Whigs. In Ireland, Home Rule candidates, working with the Whigs, won large gains from Unionist candidates....
.
He spoke in Parliament on the issue of Sheriffs Depute in Scotland, on 29 March 1822.
He died at Bath, Somerset in May 1829.