L30/12/54

Correspondence to Alexander Hume-Campbell, Lord Polwarth from his nephew, Hugh Scott, mostly sent from Mertoun or London.

1778-1780

From: 1778 To: 1780

Hugh Scott was the son of Walter Scott and Hon. Diana (nee Hume-Campbell), daughter of Hugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont and his first wife, Anne Western. Diana would have been half sister to Alexander Hume-Campbell, Lord Polwarth. A number of the letters relate to the 1780 general election in Berwickshire. Sir John Paterson [married to Lord Marchmont's daughter Anne] had been returned as Member of Parliament for Berwickshire at a by-election on 15 April 1779. At the 1780 general election he was faced by a challenge from other members of the Marchmont family when his nephew by marriage Hugh Scott stood against him. Scott won in a tough contest and Paterson petitioned, on the grounds of an illegal bargain between Scott and another candidate. The election was declared void, but Scott was re-elected at another poll. Hugh Scott legally changed his name to Hugh Hepburne-Scott in December 1820 when he inherited his cousin James Hepburne of Humbie's estates. He succeeded as the 6th Lord Polwarth on 20 July 1827. On 25 June 1835 his title of Lord Polwarth was recognised.

file

Scott, Hugh,
Hepburne-Scott, Hugh,
Paterson, John

family correspondence, elections, Berwickshire