Scottish County

In Edinburghshire, ‘the first county of Scotland’, a majority of the freeholders were members of the Scottish bar, law agents, administrators, and men of wealth, culture, and independence. The principal landowner, the Duke of Buccleuch, was a minor until 1767, and although other peers possessed estates in the shire they exercised minor influence in comparison with the celebrated legal family, the Dundases of Arniston, who, though of no great fortune, had by their personal interest obtained ‘the entire command’ of the county.

The Grants of Grant, the Earl Fife, and the Duke of Gordon contended for control of the county; the interest of the Brodies of Brodie, once considerable, did not revive until the 1780’s. The seat was held from 1741 by Sir Ludovick Grant, chief of the clan, who was attached to the Duke of Newcastle and was distrusted by both Argyll and Bute. He was a disagreeable man, frequently at odds with the Gordons and with his near relations the Duffs, but nevertheless was returned unopposed in 1754.

In 1774 Robinson wrote that the Duke of Queensberry’s interest was ‘greatly superior to everything that can be brought in opposition to it’,Laprade, 18. and William Adam in 1788 confirmed that Queensberry retained the ‘commanding interest’.Pol. State of Scotland, 97 The only opposition came from an old Dumfriesshire family, the Johnstones of Westerhall, who in 1774 supported Alexander Fergusson of Craigdarroch against Robert Laurie.

At the beginning of this period the Campbells were in control of Dunbartonshire. John Campbell of Mamore, heir to the Duke of Argyll, was returned unopposed in 1754, having represented the county since 1727. He was again returned in 1761, unaware that he had succeeded to the dukedom two days before the election. Several candidates were anxious to obtain the now vacant seat. Robert Haldane of Gleneagles, an opponent of the Campbells, wrote (23 Apr.) to Bute for support, claiming that ‘our family interest is not inconsiderable’.

Two family groups contended for the representation of Clackmannanshire. The first included the Abercrombys of Tullibody and Brucefield, their relations the Bruces of Kennet, Sir Lawrence Dundas, and Lord Cathcart. The second comprised the Erskines of Mar, and their kinsmen the Erskines of Grange and of Alva.

Cromartyshire was one of the smallest of the Scottish counties. No one family had a commanding interest: those with influence included the Gordons of Invergordon, the Macleods of Cadboll, the Mackenzies, earls of Cromarty, and, in the later part of the period, David Ross of Inverchasly, Lord Ankerville, S.C.J.

This constituency was controlled by the Earl of Bute. In 1788 eight of its electors were closely connected with Bute, including his brother, his four sons, and two dependants. Of the remaining four electors, at least three were attached to the Bute interest.Pol. State of Scotland 1788, pp. 75-76.

The leading interest in this small county was that of the Sinclair family, and particularly of the Ulbster branch. George Sinclair of Ulbster was married to the sister of William, 17th Earl of Sutherland, and the two families collaborated in the county in the early part of the period. Neither John Scott, returned in 1754, nor Lord Fortrose, returned in 1768, had any property in Caithness. Scott was at that time a friend of the Sutherlands, and Fortrose was brought in as a Government supporter.

The Duffs of Braco had by far the greatest interest in Banffshire, and carried every election in this period. Only the Gordon family could have offered a serious challenge. William Adam wrote in 1788 that ‘these two families (and indeed the Earl of Fife singly) overshadow all the small and independent proprietors’.Pol. State of Scotland, 50.

Two major interests contended for control of the county: the Homes, earls of Home, and the Humes, earls of Marchmont, branches of a family which had separated in the fifteenth century, and were at bitter odds with each other. Hugh, 3rd Earl of Marchmont, was an able, rich, and arrogant politician, violently jealous of Argyll’s power as ‘viceroy’ of Scotland. William, 8th Earl of Home, whose father had been imprisoned on suspicion of Jacobitism, was an impoverished army officer who had the consistent support and affection of Argyll.