Family and Education

b. c.1777, 1st s. of Sir William Cuningham (afterwards Cuningham Fairlie), 6th Bt., of Robertland and Fairlie by 1st w. Anne, da. of Robert Colquhoun of St. Kitts. m. (1) 21 May 1818, Anne, da. and h. of Robert Cooper of Woodbridge, Suff., s.p.; (2) Marianne, da. of Sir James Campbell, 3rd Bt., of Aberuchill, Perth, s.p. suc. fa. as 7th Bt. 15 Oct. 1811.

Offices Held

Biography

Cuningham, whose father took his mother’s surname of Fairlie shortly before his death in 1811, was a candidate at Leominster in 1818. He refused to take the oath on his property qualification when counsel for his opponent John Harcourt alleged that he resorted to property in Ayrshire, as well as his wife’s in Suffolk. He proceeded to make a mock purchase of local property from two of his supporters for £14,000, took the oath, 20 June, and was elected. On a petition against his return the committee decided that the last-minute conveyances were not bona fide and, as the electors had been given due notice of his want of qualification by his opponent, he was unseated. He regained his seat in 1820. He died 1 Feb. 1837.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes