SCOTT (SCOT), David (1689-1766), of Scotstarvet, Fife.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1741 - 1747
27 Mar. 1751 - 1 Dec. 1766

Family and Education

b. 1689, o.s. of David Scot of Scotstarvet by his and w. Elizabeth, da. of John Ellis of Elliston.  educ. adv. 1712.  m. 26 Nov. 1716, Lucy, da. of Sir Robert Gordon, M.P., 3rd Bt., of Gordonstoun, 2s. 2da.  suc. fa. 1718.

Offices Held

Biography

Scott was elected for Aberdeen Burghs with the support of Lord Panmure and Administration. He remained faithful to Newcastle, voted 2 May 1757 against the Minorca inquiry, and was listed by him among the Scots Members personally attached to himself. Nominated to the committee on the Scottish militia bill, he resisted Newcastle’s persuasions to vote against it.1

When at the general election of 1761 Lord Panmure threatened to withdraw his interest from Scott, Lord Mansfield, Scott’s nephew, appealed to Bute:2

I understand Lord Panmure’s interest in the boroughs Mr. Scott now serves for, is at your Lordship’s disposal. I am glad of it, because I flatter myself your Lordship has so much partiality for me as to like that he should remain. Though a seat in Parliament never has in any shape been the smallest advantage to him, I have it greatly at heart for many reasons that he should continue, and shall think myself much obliged to your Lordship for your interposition in his favour.

Scott was duly returned on the Panmure interest, and attaching himself to Bute, was not in the minority on the peace preliminaries. He supported the Grenville Administration on Wilkes and general warrants, but did not apparently follow Grenville into Opposition. Listed by Rockingham in July 1765 as ‘doubtful’ and later as ‘pro’, he did not vote against the repeal of the Stamp Act on 22 Feb. 1766, but as he was ‘absent, in London’ from the division of 7 Feb. it is probable that he was prevented by illness from attending.  He died 1 Dec. 1766.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Edith Lady Haden-Guest

Notes

  • 1. Add. 32904, f. 145; 32995, f. 383.
  • 2. 15 Mar. 1761, Bute mss.