DALRYMPLE, John (1780-1835), of North Berwick, Haddington.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

14 Feb. 1805 - 17 Mar. 1806

Family and Education

b. 2 Dec. 1780, 2nd s. of Sir Hew Dalrymple (afterwards Hamilton Dalrymple), 3rd Bt., of North Berwick, and bro. of Hew Hamilton Dalrymple*. m. 30 July 1806, Charlotte, da. of Sir Patrick Warrender, 3rd Bt., of Lochend, sis. of Sir George Warrender*, 2s. 5da. suc. bro. Hew as 5th Bt. 23 Feb. 1834.

Offices Held

Cornet 28 Drag. 1795, lt. 1797, capt. 1800, half-pay 1802; capt. commdt. N. Berwick vols. 1803; capt. 73 Ft. 1803, 42 Ft. 1803; maj. 64 Ft. 1805; lt.-col. 10 Ft. 1805, 22 Ft. 1806; brevet col. 1813, maj.-gen. 1819.

Biography

Dalrymple, a professional soldier, came into Parliament briefly to safeguard his elder brother Sir Hew’s alliance with Lord Lauderdale in the Haddington burghs. When Lauderdale’s brother vacated his seat in 1805, a contest was threatened; although Dalrymple’s brother professed to have no wish to see a member of his family returned, it was Dalrymple whose nomination averted it.1 Like his brother he was expected to support Pitt’s second ministry, but his being posted to the West Indies frustrated this and, on the change of ministry, his seat was vacated to make room for the lord advocate. Dalrymple’s brother subsequently claimed credit with Lord Grenville for this and, after Dalrymple had transferred his professional duties from the West to the East Indies, made it his ground for an application for his promotion.2 Dalrymple later obtained a command at Madras and died 26 May 1835.3 He is not to be confused with his cousin Sir John Hamilton Dalrymple, 5th Bt., of Cousland who repeatedly contested Midlothian.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes

  • 1. NLS mss 1053, f. 114.
  • 2. Fortescue mss, Dalrymple Hamilton to Grenville, 10 June 1811.
  • 3. Gent. Mag. (1835), ii. 648.