Stair, John Dalrymple, Earl of, 1673-1747

John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair shot his elder brother to death by accident at the age of eight and was banished by his parents to Holland, where he fought under William III at Steenkirk (1692). He was aide-de-camp to Marlborough in 1703, made Colonel of the Scots Guard in 1706, secretly married the Viscountess Primrose in 1708, and returned to Edinburgh to work for the Hanoverian succession. Ambassador to Paris under George I, in 1720 he returned to Scotland, devoted himself to agricultural improvements, and, after losing his seat in the House of Lords in 1734, organized Scottish opposition to Walpole's government. Made field marshall in 1742, Stair was named governor of Minorca.

From the description of Stair papers, 1722-1745. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 77977312

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