HOPE, John (c.1684-1766), of Culdraines.

A younger son, Hope entered the army but sold his lieutenant-colonelcy in 1718. Next year, after unsuccessfully applying to Craggs for employment,Hope to Craggs, 17 Mar. 1719, Stowe 247, f. 110. he went to Sweden with a recommendation from his kinsman, Lord Polwarth, to the British ambassador, Lord Carteret, who promised to ‘do all the service I can to Colonel Hope, who deserves everyone’s esteem’.HMC Polwarth, ii. 422. When Carteret became secretary of state in 1721, Hope was made governor of Bermuda, which enabled him to pay off his debts.CSP Col. 1722-3, p. 249. Returned for Kinross-shire in 1727, he voted with the Administration on the civil list arrears in 1729. Following Carteret into opposition in 1730, he spoke, 21 Feb. 1733, against two motions for raising the duty on rum and molasses imported into the colonies,Stuart mss 160/164A. and, 13 Feb. 1734, in favour of a motion to prevent the dismissal of any officer not over the rank of colonel, except by court martial. Again returned for his county, which was represented only in alternate Parliaments, in 1741, he voted with the Opposition on the chairman of the elections committee, but supported the Government after his patron, Carteret, joined the ministry in 1742, and obtained a regiment in 1743. On 10 Apr. 1745 he seconded a motion in favour of Admiral Mathews.Yorke’s parl. jnl. Parl. Hist. xiii. 1268. He did not stand again, dying 5 June 1766.