MAXWELL, John (c.1700-54), of Cardoness, Kirkcudbright.

Maxwell, an army officer, whose family were cadets of the Maxwells of Calderwood,1Fraser, Book of Carlaverock, i. 604; P. H. M’Kerlie, Lands and their Owners in Galloway, iii. 28-29. was related through his mother to James, John and William Stewart. Returned unopposed for Kirkcudbright in 1742 at a by-election caused by the death of Basil Hamilton, he voted with the Administration on the Hanoverians in 1744. Classed in 1746 as ‘Old Whig’, he stood again in 1747, supported by Argyll, Pelham and the Earl of Galloway, but withdrew before the contest when his canvass showed that he would be beaten 27 to 24. He alleged that Andrew Fletcher (Lord Milton), Argyll’s deputy in Scotland, intervened personally in favour of his opponent, who had full opposition support. ‘I dare say’, commented Argyll, ‘some of the gentlemen thought they supported the Court, at least the winning side’.2Maxwell to Pelham, 4 Aug. 1747, Argyll to Pelham, 23 July, 1 Aug. 1747, Newcastle (Clumber) mss. Maxwell died before the next election, in February 1754.