Sir Gilbert Elliot, 3rd Baronet
Encyclopedia
The Rt. Hon. Sir Gilbert Elliot, 3rd Baronet
of Minto (September 1722 – 11 February 1777) was born at Minto
, Roxburghshire
, and was a Scottish
statesman, philosopher and poet.
, to have ‘read over almost all the classics, both Greek and Latin’. Elliot's friendship with Hume had begun while both were students at Edinburgh University. He was trained for the Scottish Bar, and passed Advocate
on December 10, 1743. On the death of his father on 16 April 1766 he inherited the Baronetcy.
Other works by Elliot include ‘Twas at the hour of dark midnight’, describing the death of Colonel James Gardiner (1686–1745) during the Battle of Prestonpans
, published in the third volume of the Scots Musical Museum and ‘Thoughts occasioned by the funeral of the earl and countess of Sutherland in Holyrood House’ which appeared anonymously in the Scots Magazine
for October 1766.
In March 1748 Elliot was appointed as Roxburghshire's first sheriff-depute, one of the judges introduced in Scotland by legislation passed following the Jacobite rising
of 1745. Elliot served in the House of Commons
as Member of Parliament for Selkirkshire
(1753–1765), and then Roxburghshire
(1765–1777), and was a supporter of the policies of King George III
in the American colonies
. His Papers concerning the Boston Tea Party
are in Harvard University Library
.http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~hou00995 At one time he was a candidate for the Speaker's Chair in the House of Commons. He was made a Lord of the Admiralty in 1756, a position he held until his resignation in support of William Pitt
in April 1757, and to which he was reinstated in June with Pitt's return to office
Elliot was Treasurer of the Chamber
in the Royal Household
from 1762 to 1770. He was appointed Treasurer of the Navy
in 1770 in Lord North's government, and after was appointed Keeper of the Signet in Scotland in 1767. Elliot was a friend and follower of the Earl of Bute
. Horace Walpole
said Elliot was "one of the ablest members of the House of Commons." As a politician Elliot was best remembered for performances such as that during the militia debate in 1760 which, again according to Walpole, placed him in an élite of a group of mid- to late-century parliamentarians who displayed ‘the various powers of eloquence, art, reasoning, satire, learning, persuasion, wit, business, spirit and plain common sense’
.
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
of Minto (September 1722 – 11 February 1777) was born at Minto
Minto, Scottish Borders
Minto is a village north of the River Teviot, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, , and almost midway between the towns of Hawick and Jedburgh....
, Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfries to the west, Selkirk to the north-west, and Berwick to the north. To the south-east it borders Cumbria and Northumberland in England.It was named after the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
, and was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
statesman, philosopher and poet.
Early life and education
He was the son of Sir Gilbert Elliot, the 2nd Baronet of Minto, and Helen Steuart. One of nine children, Elliot was educated at Dalkeith grammar school and from 1735 at Edinburgh University; a period of study at the University of Utrecht (1743) was followed by a tour of the Netherlands and the German states during 1744–5. Elliot was ‘a distinguished classical scholar’ who claimed in a letter to another intimate companion, David HumeDavid Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
, to have ‘read over almost all the classics, both Greek and Latin’. Elliot's friendship with Hume had begun while both were students at Edinburgh University. He was trained for the Scottish Bar, and passed Advocate
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
on December 10, 1743. On the death of his father on 16 April 1766 he inherited the Baronetcy.
Career
Elliot was the author of "Amynta", which Sir Walter Scott described as "the beautiful pastoral song", and which began:'My sheep I neglected; I broke my sheep-hook'
Other works by Elliot include ‘Twas at the hour of dark midnight’, describing the death of Colonel James Gardiner (1686–1745) during the Battle of Prestonpans
Battle of Prestonpans
The Battle of Prestonpans was the first significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The battle took place at 4 am on 21 September 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart defeated the government army loyal to the Hanoverian...
, published in the third volume of the Scots Musical Museum and ‘Thoughts occasioned by the funeral of the earl and countess of Sutherland in Holyrood House’ which appeared anonymously in the Scots Magazine
The Scots Magazine
The Scots Magazine is a magazine containing articles on subjects of Scottish interest. It is the oldest magazine in the world still in publication although there have been several gaps in its publication history...
for October 1766.
In March 1748 Elliot was appointed as Roxburghshire's first sheriff-depute, one of the judges introduced in Scotland by legislation passed following the Jacobite rising
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
of 1745. Elliot served in the House of Commons
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
as Member of Parliament for Selkirkshire
Selkirkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Selkirkshire was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 until 1868, when it was combined with Peeblesshire to form Peebles and Selkirk...
(1753–1765), and then Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Roxburghshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
(1765–1777), and was a supporter of the policies of King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
in the American colonies
British colonization of the Americas
British colonization of the Americas began in 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia and reached its peak when colonies had been established throughout the Americas...
. His Papers concerning the Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston, a town in the British colony of Massachusetts, against the British government and the monopolistic East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies...
are in Harvard University Library
Harvard University Library
The Harvard University Library system comprises about 90 libraries, with more than 16 million volumes. It is the oldest library system in the United States, the largest academic and the largest private library system in the world...
.http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~hou00995 At one time he was a candidate for the Speaker's Chair in the House of Commons. He was made a Lord of the Admiralty in 1756, a position he held until his resignation in support of William Pitt
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British Whig statesman who led Britain during the Seven Years' War...
in April 1757, and to which he was reinstated in June with Pitt's return to office
Elliot was Treasurer of the Chamber
Treasurer of the Chamber
The Treasurer of the Chamber was a position in the British royal household, separated in 1485 from that of the Master of the Jewel Office, situated within the Privy Chamber department of the Lord Steward...
in the Royal Household
Royal Households of the United Kingdom
The Royal Households of the United Kingdom are the organised offices and support systems for the British Royal Family, along with their immediate families...
from 1762 to 1770. He was appointed Treasurer of the Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1770 in Lord North's government, and after was appointed Keeper of the Signet in Scotland in 1767. Elliot was a friend and follower of the Earl of Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute KG, PC , styled Lord Mount Stuart before 1723, was a Scottish nobleman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain under George III, and was arguably the last important favourite in British politics...
. Horace Walpole
Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford
Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford was an English art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician. He is now largely remembered for Strawberry Hill, the home he built in Twickenham, south-west London where he revived the Gothic style some decades before his Victorian successors,...
said Elliot was "one of the ablest members of the House of Commons." As a politician Elliot was best remembered for performances such as that during the militia debate in 1760 which, again according to Walpole, placed him in an élite of a group of mid- to late-century parliamentarians who displayed ‘the various powers of eloquence, art, reasoning, satire, learning, persuasion, wit, business, spirit and plain common sense’
Personal life
He married Agnes Dalrymple-Murray-Kynynmound on December 14, 1746 and with whom he had 8 children. Their oldest son was Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of MintoGilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto PC , known as Sir Gilbert Elliott between 1777 and 1797 and as The Lord Minto between 1797 and 1813, was a Scottish politician diplomat....
.
External links
- http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~hou00995Elliot's Papers at Harvard University LibraryHarvard University LibraryThe Harvard University Library system comprises about 90 libraries, with more than 16 million volumes. It is the oldest library system in the United States, the largest academic and the largest private library system in the world...
] - Elliot on Peerage.com
- Elliot in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography