Constituency Dates
Dunbartonshire 1806 – 07
Stirlingshire 1812 – 1 Apr. 1821
Family and Education
b. 10 Oct. 1764, 3rd but 1st surv. s. of Sir Archibald Edmonstone, 1st bt.†, of Duntreath and 1st w. Susanna Mary, da. of Roger Harenc, merchant, of London and Foot’s Cray Place, Kent. educ. Westminster 1772; Eton 1775-80; Christ Church, Oxf. 1780; L. Inn 1779, called 1788. m. (1) 1 June 1794, Emma (d. 30 Nov. 1797), da. of Richard Wilbraham Bootle† of Rode Hall, Cheshire, 1s. 1da.; (2) 5 Dec. 1804, Hon. Louisa Hotham, da. of Beaumont Hotham†, 2nd Bar. Hotham [I], 4s. 2da. suc. fa. as 2nd bt. 20 July 1807. d. 1 Apr. 1821.
Offices Held

Clerk in chancery 1797 – 1807.

Address
Main residence: Duntreath, Stirling.
biography text

Edmonstone was returned unopposed for Stirlingshire in 1820 with the support of the 3rd duke of Montrose and Lord Liverpool’s ministry. Soon afterwards a serious illness effectively ended his parliamentary career: no trace of activity has been found, and he was granted periods of leave, 21 June 1820, 9 Mar. 1821. In November 1820 Montrose reported to Lord Melville, the government’s Scottish manager, that Edmonstone intended to ‘vacate at the meeting of Parliament instead of at the latter end of the session’, and that his eldest son Archibald was already canvassing Stirlingshire. However, by early January 1821 he was said to be ‘wholly non compos’ and ‘unable to sign his name’, and the by-election therefore had to be delayed.1 NAS GD51/1/198/26/47; 5/522. He lingered until April 1821, dying at Brighton.2 Gent. Mag. (1821), i. 381; Sir A. Edmonstone, Fam. of Edmonstone of Duntreath, 57. He was succeeded by Archibald (1795-1871), and then by the eldest son from his second marriage, William Edmonstone (1810-88); his personalty was finally sworn under £16,000.3 PROB 11/1643/268; IR26/861/488. Archibald Edmonstone’s subsequent candidature for Stirlingshire was unsuccessful.

Author
D.R.F.
Volume
Commons 1820-1832
Notes
  • 1. NAS GD51/1/198/26/47; 5/522.
  • 2. Gent. Mag. (1821), i. 381; Sir A. Edmonstone, Fam. of Edmonstone of Duntreath, 57.
  • 3. PROB 11/1643/268; IR26/861/488.