Patrick Chalmers (MP)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Chalmers FSA
(31 October 1802 – 23 June 1854) was a British
soldier, writer and politician.
He was the son of another Patrick Chalmers, a merchant from Aldbar, from whom he inherited Aldbar Castle
. After being educated in Germany he studied at Oxford University, which he left before obtaining a degree. He then joined the army, serving in Ireland
as part of the 3rd Dragoon Guards
, where he rose to the rank of captain. In 1826, after his father's death, he sold his commission
and returned to Aldbar. In 1832 he attempted to run for office as the Member of Parliament
for Montrose Burghs, but was defeated by Horatio Ross
. He ran again in 1835 and succeeded, being reelected in 1837 and 1841. In 1842 he was forced to resign
due to ill-health, having an unidentified disease at the base of his spine, becoming the first Member of Parliament to be appointed as Steward of the Manor of Northstead
.
In later life he became an amateur Antiquarian
, being appointed a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
on 24 January 1850 and writing a book The Sculptured Monuments of the County of Angus describing work he had come across. His health returned in later years, with some suggesting that he run for reelection in the next general election, but on a journey with some young relatives on a continental tour in 1854 he was struck by smallpox, immediately followed by a second bout of the spinal disease that had forced him to resign. Under the care of doctors not familiar with him, he contracted dysentery, of which he died on 23 June.
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(31 October 1802 – 23 June 1854) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier, writer and politician.
He was the son of another Patrick Chalmers, a merchant from Aldbar, from whom he inherited Aldbar Castle
Aldbar Castle
Aldbar Castle, or Auldbar Castle, was a 16th-century tower house, located southwest of Brechin, in Angus, Scotland. It was demolished after a fire in 1965.-History:...
. After being educated in Germany he studied at Oxford University, which he left before obtaining a degree. He then joined the army, serving in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
as part of the 3rd Dragoon Guards
3rd Dragoon Guards
The 3rd Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 3rd/6th Dragoon Guards in 1922....
, where he rose to the rank of captain. In 1826, after his father's death, he sold his commission
Sale of commissions
The sale of commissions was a common practice in most European armies where wealthy and noble officers purchased their rank. Only the Imperial Russian Army and the Prussian Army never used such a system. While initially shunned in the French Revolutionary Army, it was eventually revived in the...
and returned to Aldbar. In 1832 he attempted to run for office as the 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 Montrose Burghs, but was defeated by Horatio Ross
Horatio Ross
Horatio Ross was a celebrated sportsman and a pioneer amateur photographer.-Background and early life:Ross was born at Rossie Castle, near Montrose, Angus on 5 September 1801, the son of Hercules Ross, a rich landowner who had acquired a substantial fortune in Jamaica...
. He ran again in 1835 and succeeded, being reelected in 1837 and 1841. In 1842 he was forced to resign
Resignation from the British House of Commons
Members of Parliament sitting in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom are technically forbidden to resign. To circumvent this prohibition, a legal fiction is used...
due to ill-health, having an unidentified disease at the base of his spine, becoming the first Member of Parliament to be appointed as Steward of the Manor of Northstead
Manor of Northstead
The Manor of Northstead was once a collection of fields and farms in the parish of Scalby in the North Riding of Yorkshire in England. By 1600, the manor house had fallen into disrepair and was occupied only by a shepherd. At present the Manor is part of the Barrowcliff area of the town of...
.
In later life he became an amateur Antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
, being appointed a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
on 24 January 1850 and writing a book The Sculptured Monuments of the County of Angus describing work he had come across. His health returned in later years, with some suggesting that he run for reelection in the next general election, but on a journey with some young relatives on a continental tour in 1854 he was struck by smallpox, immediately followed by a second bout of the spinal disease that had forced him to resign. Under the care of doctors not familiar with him, he contracted dysentery, of which he died on 23 June.