John Montgomerie (died 1725)
John Montgomerie | |
|---|---|
| Born | Scotland |
| Died | Error: Need valid birth date (second date): year, month, day |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, customs contractor, politician |
| Years active | 1704–1710 (political career) |
| Known for | Member of the Parliament of Scotland and British House of Commons |
John Montgomerie (deceased 11 March 1725), associated with Wrae in Linlithgow, was a Scottish entrepreneur, customs contractor, and Whig political figure who represented constituencies in the Parliament of Scotland from 1704 until 1707 and briefly held a seat in the British House of Commons during 1710.
Early life
As the fifth son of George Montgomerie of Broomlands, Ayrshire, a minor Scottish landowner, Montgomerie trained as a writer to the signet, achieving qualification in 1687. He entered into marriage with Penelope Barclay, daughter of Sir Robert Barclay of Perceton, Ayr, on 2 February 1689. His subsequent marriage took place in September 1696 to Janet Gray, whose father was Thomas Gray, a merchant based in Edinburgh. In 1697, he purchased property at Wrae in Linlithgowshire.
Career
In 1704, Montgomerie secured election as the shire commissioner representing Linlithgowshire in the Parliament of Scotland. By 1706, he had attained the status of burgess of Edinburgh and was appointed as a director of the Bank of Scotland. The following year, he assumed the role of Commissioner of Excise for Scotland. Although an advocate for the Union between Scotland and England, he was not selected as one of Scotland’s representatives to the inaugural Parliament of Great Britain after the 1707 Acts of Union.
Montgomerie stood unsuccessfully for election in Linlithgowshire at the 1708 British general election. The subsequent year, he was appointed Under-secretary of State for Scotland and served as private secretary to Lord Queensberry. He entered the British Parliament as Member for Buteshire through a by-election held in February 1710, supported by Lord Bute. Since Buteshire was an alternating constituency, it did not have representation in the following Parliament. Aligning with Court interests, Montgomerie voted in favor of impeaching Dr Sacheverell in 1710 but failed to regain a parliamentary seat at the general election later that year.
Later life and legacy
Montgomerie's commercial ventures collapsed between 1712 and 1713, resulting in Treasury demands concerning customs revenues. He passed away on 11 March 1725 and was succeeded by his son George.