Constituency Dates
Orkney and Shetland 23 Feb. 1781 – 1784
Family and Education
1st s. of James Baikie of Tankerness by Janet, da. of William Douglas, and heiress of the Monteiths of Egilshay. m. 12 Feb. 1785, Mary, da. and coh. of Thomas Balfour of Huip, 4s. 3da. suc. fa. 1764.
Address
Main residence: Tankerness and Egilshay, Orkney.
biography text

Of an old Orkney family, influential both in the burgh of Kirkwall and in the county, Robert Baikie was connected through his mother with the Douglases, Earls of Morton. His father James Baikie, provost of Kirkwall during and after the ’45, was a supporter of the Morton interest; and in 1760 received for his electoral services a pension of £200 p.a. continued after his death to his widow.1Namier, Structure, 463. Mrs. Baikie’s pension appears in a list delivered to Rockingham on 21 Apr. 1782 and to Shelburne on 17 July 1782, Royal archives, Windsor.

In 1780 Robert Baikie stood as the Government sponsored candidate for Orkney and Shetland against Charles Dundas, then in opposition. Payments were made from the King’s private account to assist Baikie: £300 on 22 Sept. 1779, £315 on 16 Feb. 1781, and £2300 on 26 July 1781 for ‘Orkney and Edinburgh’.2Laprade, 58-59. He was returned by 11 votes to 5, but unseated on petition. In 1784 he was defeated at the poll by Thomas Dundas.

He died 4 Apr. 1817.

Author
E.H.-G.
Volume
Commons 1754-1790
Notes
  • 1. Namier, Structure, 463. Mrs. Baikie’s pension appears in a list delivered to Rockingham on 21 Apr. 1782 and to Shelburne on 17 July 1782, Royal archives, Windsor.
  • 2. Laprade, 58-59.