Sir Thomas Montgomery-Cuninghame, 8th Baronet
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Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas Montgomery-Cuninghame, 8th Baronet (c. 1808 – 30 August 1870) was a Scottish British Army officer.
Early life
Montgomery-Cuninghame was born in London in c. 1808. He was the second son of Sir James Montgomery-Cuninghame, 6th Baronet and Janet Cuming.[1] Among his siblings was Sir Alexander David Montgomery-Cuninghame, 7th Baronet,[2] and Jessie Jean Montgomery-Cuninghame (who married Sir James Boswell, 2nd Baronet).[3]
His paternal grandparents were the former Elizabeth Montgomery (a daughter of David Montgomery of Lainshaw, Ayrshire) and Alexander Montgomery-Cuninghame (a younger son of Sir David Cuninghame, 3rd Baronet), who legally changed his surname to Montgomery-Cuninghame on inheriting the Kirktonholm estate.[3] Among his extended family were uncles, Sir Walter Montgomery-Cuninghame, 4th Baronet and Sir David Montgomery-Cuninghame, 5th Baronet.[4] His maternal grandfather was Thomas Cuming, Esq., of Earnside, Nairnshire and Hatton, Cheshire, who was a banker in Edinburgh.[5]
Career
He began his military career as an Ensign with the 94th Regiment of Foot on 15 August 1826. He advanced to Lieutenant on 28 September 1830 before selling on 5 April 1833. He became a Major with the Royal Ayrshire Militia on 17 April 1837, Lieutenant-Colonel on 12 April 1850 until 14 September 1858.[1]
Upon the death of his elder brother, Alexander David Montgomery-Cuninghame, who died unmarried on 8 June 1846, he succeeded as the 8th Baronet Cuninghame, of Corsehill, Ayrshire in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia.[5] He also succeeded as the 15th Laird of Lainshaw.[3]
Personal life
In 1832, he married Charlotte Niven Doig Hutcheson (1816–1902), only child of Hugh Hutcheson of Southfield, Renfrewshire.[6] Together, they were the parents of:[3]
- Sir William James Montgomery-Cuninghame, 9th Baronet (1834–1897),[7] an MP for Ayr Burghs; he married Elizabeth Hartopp at Dalby Hall, Leicestershire, daughter of Edward Bourchier Hartopp, MP for North Leicestershire, and Honoria Gent (a daughter of Maj.-Gen. William Gent), in 1869.[1]
- Jessie Augusta Montgomery-Cuninghame (1835–1908), who married Hon. Augustus Anthony Frederick Irby, son of George Irby, 3rd Baron Boston and Rachel Ives Drake, in 1866.[8]
- Arthur Hugh Montgomery-Cuninghame (1836–1850), an officer in the Royal Navy who died unmarried.[3]
- Walter Montgomery-Cuninghame (1842–1856), who died young.[3]
- Eleanor Montgomery-Cuninghame (1843–1921), who died unmarried.[3]
- Edith Jane Montgomery-Cuninghame (1846–1855), who died young.[3]
- Alice Montgomery-Cuninghame (1847–1847), who died young.[3]
On 30 August 1870, Sir Thomas died at his residence,[5] 16 Prince's Gate, Hyde Park, London (later the Iranian Embassy).[9] He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, William.[10][11] His widow, Lady Montgomery-Cuninghame, died on 25 June 1902.[3] In his memory, she had restored the "ancient burying place of the Glencairn family" at Kilmarnock Cemetery, Ayrshire, as Sir Thomas was a descendant of Andrew, second son of the 4th Earl of Glencairn.[12]