Commons 1715-1754

The principal interest in Wigtown and Whithorn belonged to the Stewarts, earls of Galloway; the Dalrymples, earls of Stair, were in control at Stranraer; New Galloway, in Kirkcudbright, was more open owing to the attainder of the Jacobite Earl of Kenmure in 1716. Perhaps because of a series of unopposed returns, the rota of presiding burghs, as laid down in the Act of Union, was not strictly adhered to.

The chief interests in Tain Burghs were those of the Sinclairs of Ulbster at Wick, the earls of Morton at Kirkwall, the Munros of Foulis at Tain, the earls of Cromartie at Dingwall, and the earls of Sutherland at Dornoch. From 1715 to 1741 the seat was held, with government support, by Sir Robert Munro, who wrested the control of Dingwall from the Cromarties in 1716,NLS, 1392 (Delvine Pprs.), f. 170. retaining it by arresting and kidnapping opponents.Alex.

Under George I Stirling Burghs, one of the most venal constituencies in Scotland, was represented by Henry Cunningham, a Walpole Whig, who inherited an interest in Stirling. He built up another interest in Inverkeithing by purchasing tenements there from the 1st Earl of Rosebery, whom he succeeded as provost in 1720.Ramsay of Ochtertyre, Scotland and Scotsmen in 18th Cent. ii. 120-1; W. Stephen, Hist.

Perth Burghs, in three counties, were open and venal. The nearest approach to a territorial interest was that of the earls of Rothes, whose seat adjoined Cupar. All the Members were government supporters.

Lanark was influenced by the earls of Hyndford, Peebles by the earls of March, Selkirk by John Murray, the hereditary sheriff of Selkirkshire, Linlithgow by the Tory dukes of Hamilton.

In 1715 the strongest interest in Inverness and Forres was that of the Forbes family of Culloden; Fortrose was controlled by the Earl of Seaforth, attainted for his part in the rebellion of that year; Nairn by Hugh Rose of Kilravock. The sitting Member, William Steuart, supported by the Forbes and Rose interests, was opposed by Seaforth’s brother, Alexander Mackenzie, who withdrew, leaving Steuart to be returned unopposed.

From the Union to 1734 the representation of Haddington Burghs was monopolized by the Dalrymples of Hailes, a branch of the family of the earls of Stair. In 1734 Sir James Dalrymple, having followed the head of his family, Lord Stair, into opposition, was defeated by James Fall, a wealthy Dunbar merchant, with the support of the Government. Dalrymple and the town councils of all the burghs, except Dunbar, petitioned unsuccessfully on the grounds that Fall had not been returned by the legal common clerk of Jedburgh, the presiding burgh. When the petition was heard on 12 Mar.

The chief interests in Glasgow Burghs were those of the Campbells, dukes of Argyll, and of the town council of Glasgow, then entering on a period of prosperity, based on the tobacco trade. The Members, who were expected to look after the city’s commercial interests, were either merchants, preferably with London connexions, or relations of the dukes of Argyll.

The chief interests in Elgin Burghs were those of the Earl of Kintore, who controlled Kintore and Inverurie, and the Earl of Findlater, who controlled Banff and Cullen. In 1715 the rival candidates were James Murray, later secretary of state to the Pretender, supported by Lord Kintore, and Col. John Campbell, first cousin to the Duke of Argyll, supported by Lord Findlater.More Culloden Pprs. ii. 49-51. The issue depended on the fifth burgh, Elgin, which two rival delegates, one pro-Murray, the other pro-Campbell, claimed the right to represent at the election meeting.