Family and Education

b. c.1680, 1st s. of Sir William Eliott, 2nd Bt., M.P. [S], of Stobs by his 2nd w. Margaret, da. of Charles Murray of Hadden, Roxburgh. m. 23 Apr. 1702, Eleanora, da. of William Elliot of Wells, Roxburgh, lace-maker of London, 10s. (inc. George, Lord Heathfield) 1da. suc. fa. 19 Feb. 1699.

Offices Held

Biography

Eliott, whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather had all represented Roxburghshire before the Union, sat for the county as a Whig in the British Parliament under Queen Anne. He did not stand in 1715 or 1722 but was again returned in July 1726 at a contested by-election caused by the elevation of his kinsman, Sir Gilbert Elliot of Minto, to the bench. A month later he quarrelled with Colonel Stewart of Stewartfield after dinner at an inn in Jedburgh, ran him through the stomach with fatal results, made his escape to Holland, and was outlawed at a meeting of local magistrates. His relations did all they could for him, obtaining the active help of Lord Ilay, who on 27 Aug. 1727 reported to Minto, ‘I have very good hopes the King will pardon him’.1 When this came about, Eliott returned to his estates, where he died, 27 May 1764.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: R. S. Lea

Notes

• 1. G. Tancred, Rulewater and its People, 26-27; Annals of a Border Club, 4-5; G. F. S. Elliot, Border Elliots, 310.