Family and Education

b. 1754, 1st s. of Colin Drummond by Katherine, da. of Robert, Oliphant of Rossie, Perth.  educ. Westminster 1765.  m. 20 July 1788, Lady Susan Fane, da. of John, 9th Earl of Westmorland, 1s. 1da.  suc. uncle Adam Drummond in the Lennoch and Megginch estates 17 June 1786.

Offices Held

Biography

As a youth John Drummond went to Canada where his father had settled in 1765, as distributor of stamps and Quebec agent for Fludyer, Adam Drummond and Franks, contractors for victualling the troops in North America.1 In 1768 Colin Drummond was appointed a member of the Quebec council, and was commissary general and paymaster to the forces in Canada until his death in 1776. His son John succeeded him on the council and was appointed a deputy commissary and paymaster.2

In August 1779 Drummond obtained leave of absence, and in April 1781 resigned his office as deputy commissary, but seems to have remained deputy paymaster until June 1782.3

On the death of his uncle Adam Drummond, he succeeded him as Member for Shaftesbury, and voted with Administration to the end of the Parliament. He is not known to have spoken in the House. He stood for Perthshire in I790 but was defeated.

Apparently in financial difficulties, he sold the Lennoch estate shortly after his succession, and in 1795 made over Megginch to his brother Robert, a captain in the East India Company marine service.

He died 13 May 1835.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Edith Lady Haden-Guest

Notes

• 1. John Watts Letter Bk. (N.Y. Hist. Soc. Coll.) 373, 376-7; Gage Corresp. ii. 266, 418.
• 2. Canadian Archives. Docs. relating to Constitutional Hist. 1759-91, i. 301, 395, 396, 401; ii. 595, 697; Bd. Trade Jnl. 1776-82, pp. 46-47.
• 3. T29/49/375; T29/57/275; T52/69/329; Laprade, 37.