TAIT, William (d.1800), of Edinburgh.

Tait, an advocate who acted as confidential agent to Henry Dundas, was chosen by the latter as candidate for the Stirling burghs on a vacancy in 1797, taking them by surprise. In Parliament, where he took his seat on 17 July 1797, he supported Pitt’s administration, voting with them on the assessed taxes, 4 Jan. 1798. No speech is known. He died at Exeter in pursuit of better health, 7 Jan. 1800. Brougham thought him ‘one of the most accomplished lawyers of his time’.Senators (ser. 1), viii. 171; Gent. Mag. (1800), i. 89; Brougham, Life and Times, i. 232.