Letters of Archibald William Montgomerie (1812-1861), 13th Earl of Eglinton and 1st Earl of Winton

The collection is composed of: letter to the 'Ladies of Irvine' and refers to a 'Tournament'; a note referring to an order for the 'Gallery of the House of Lords'; a letter referring to 'laudable endeavours to promote the Conservative Cause'; a letter referring to a 'communication - to Lord Palmerston' and also about bringing a matter to 'the notice of the Queen'; and, a letter to G. B. Ross regretting that he cannot assist the Scotch Rifles in Ipswich, 1860.

Archibald William Montgomerie was born in Palermo, Sicily, on 29 September 1812. He was educated at Eton. He succeeded to the Earldom in 1819 on the death of his grandfather. He took his seat in the Lords as Baron Ardrossan. He was appointed Lord-Lieutenant and Sheriff Principal of Ayrshire in 1842. Eglinton was a protectionist and spoke against the Corn Importation Bill in 1846. In Lord Derby's government he was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland (Viceroy) and conducted his business with vice-regal style, though he was not popular among the Irish upper classes. Archibald William Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton and 1st Earl of Winton, died on 4 October 1861.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

Material in Gen. 2040, among miscellaneous Scottish letters, purchased E. Hall, Harrogate, October 1976, Accession no. E76.43.

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of national biography. Vol.13. Masquerier-Myles. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1909.

Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

The local Indexes show various references to Eglinton related material (check the Indexes for more details): franked postal cover addressed to G. Foster, with biographical note, 8 April 1835, at Dk.6.19/3; letter to Eglinton from J. Campbell about the Ayrshire Foxhounds, 6 March 1840, at Gen. 886/3, no. 4; letter about the plan of a mausoleum, 20 July 1841, at Gen. 863/8/19; and, letters (2) to Sir G. Warrender, watermarked 1839, no date, at La.II.509.

In addition, the UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes several locations of Eglinton related material.