Constituency Dates
Kincardineshire 19 June 1788 – 1796, 1796 – 8 Apr. 1797
Family and Education
b. 27 Nov. 1732,1R. Burnham Moffat, Barclays of New York, 223. C. W. and H. F. Barclay, Hist. Barclay Fam. gives 17 Nov. 1st s. of Robert Barclay of Urie by his cos. Une, da. of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel. m. (1) 3 June 1756,2Scots Mag. (1756), 314. his cos. Lucy (d. 24 Mar. 1757),3Ibid. (1757), 165. da. of David Barclay, linen draper, of Cheapside, London, 1da.; (2) 2 Dec. 1776,4Burnham Moffat, 224. Sarah Anne (div. Sept. 1793), da. and h. of James Allardice of Allardice, Kincardine, 3s. 5da.; took additional name of Allardice. suc. fa. 1760.
Offices Held

Member, board of agriculture 1793 – d.

Address
Main residence: Urie, Kincardine.
biography text

Barclay Allardice, who used his influence in Aberdeen Burghs to help oust the Whig sitting Member in 1790, retained his own seat for Kincardineshire without opposition until his death. He continued to give apparently silent support to government and voted, as predicted, against the relief of Scotsmen from the Test Act, 10 May 1791, and against the abolition of the slave trade, 15 Mar. 1796. He was a defaulter ordered to attend the House, 24 Nov. 1795.5CJ, li. 104.

His consuming interest was in the development and application of scientific agricultural techniques: he was described as ‘the first, the most extensive, and judicious systematic improver of land in the north of Scotland’.6Statistical Account of Scotland (1793), vi. 204-5. In his domestic life he preserved the Quaker traditions of his ancestors. His granddaughter recalled him as

very cheerful, orderly, active, acute as a man of business, and most kindly in his consideration and thought for the welfare and happiness of all about him. He gave his charity in a benevolent, considerate and business way ... and supplied the want kindly, beneficently yet not lavishly, with a completeness that showed his pleasure in giving, yet with an orderly economy.7Barclay, iii. 217.

Barclay Allardice, who founded the town of Stonehaven, died 8 Apr. 1797.

Author
D.R.F.
Volume
Commons 1790-1820
Notes
  • 1. R. Burnham Moffat, Barclays of New York, 223. C. W. and H. F. Barclay, Hist. Barclay Fam. gives 17 Nov.
  • 2. Scots Mag. (1756), 314.
  • 3. Ibid. (1757), 165.
  • 4. Burnham Moffat, 224.
  • 5. CJ, li. 104.
  • 6. Statistical Account of Scotland (1793), vi. 204-5.
  • 7. Barclay, iii. 217.