Rental of Dunbog Estate

Rental of Dunbog Estate, 1767.

The barony and estate of West Kerse (Stirlingshire) was purchased in 1752 by Sir Lawrence Dundas (c 1710-1781), second son of Thomas Dundas of Fingask, who was created 1st Baronet of Kerse in 1762. He laid the foundation of the town of Grangemouth, from 1777. In 1768 he was elected to Parliament for Edinburgh, a constituency he represented until his death in 1781 (less a short spell when he was MP for Richmond, 1780-1781); he had previously been MP for Linlithgow Burghs (1747-1748) and for Newcastle-under-Lyme (1762-1768). Sir Lawrence had profited greatly from contracts to supply the army during wars in Europe. He purchased other estates in Yorkshire, Stirlingshire, Clackmannanshire and Fife in an attempt to secure greater prestige and influence, but did not himself obtain a seat in the House of Lords. Other important landed acquisitions included the lands of the earldom of Orkney, which were sold in 1766 by James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton (1702-1768) to him. Sir Lawrence was succeeded by his only son, Sir Thomas, who was MP for Stirling County in 1768-1769 and was created Baron Dundas of Aske in 1794. He died in 1820. Thomas, Lord Dundas, was succeeded by his son Lawrence, who was created Earl of Zetland by Queen Victoria in 1838, a year before his death in 1839. His grandson, Lawrence, was created Marquess of Zetland in 1892. The family seat is currently in Yorkshire.

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This record was transferred from Dundee University Library.

Compiled by Caroline Brown, University of Dundee, and Jenny Cutts, Scottish Archive Network Project.

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