Archibald Primrose, 1st Earl of Rosebery

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The Earl of Rosebery
Member of Parliament for Edinburghshire
In office
1695–1700
Serving with Robert Craig, Sir Alexander Gilmour, Sir John Clerk
Preceded bySir James Foulis
Sir John Maitland
Sir Alexander Gilmour
Sir John Clerk
Succeeded byRobert Craig
Robert Dundas
Sir Alexander Gilmour
Sir John Clerk
Personal details
Born
Archibald Primrose

(1664-12-18)18 December 1664
Died20 October 1723(1723-10-20) (aged 58)
Spouse
Dorothea Cressy
(after 1690)
Parent(s)Sir Archibald Primrose, Lord Carrington
Agnes Gray

Archibald Primrose, 1st Earl of Rosebery PC (18 December 1664 – 20 October 1723) was a Scottish politician.

Early life[edit]

Primrose was born on 18 December 1664. He was the son of Sir Archibald Primrose, Lord Carrington (1616–1679), and Agnes Gray (d. 1699). His mother, the daughter of Sir William Gray of Pittendrum, was the widow of Sir James Dundas of Newliston. His father, the son of James Primrose and Catherine Lawson, was the widower of Elizabeth Keith (daughter of Sir James Keith of Benholme).[1] From his parents marriage, his sister was Grizel Primrose (wife of Francis Sempill, 8th Lord Sempill, and Brig.-Gen. Richard Cunningham). From his father's first marriage, he had a number of half-siblings, including Sir James Primrose, Maj.-Gen. Gilbert Primrose, Sir William Primrose, 2nd Baronet, Catherine Primrose (wife of Sir David Carnegie, 1st Baronet), and Margaret Primrose (wife of Sir John Foulis, 1st Baronet).[2]

Career[edit]

Primrose was a Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland for Edinburgh county from 1695 until his elevation to the peerage of Scotland in 1700.[3] He also served as Chamberlain of Fife and Strathearn between 1703 and 1714.[2]

He was Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark (husband of the future Queen Anne). He was created Viscount Rosebery (in the Peerage of Scotland) in 1700, with special remainder to heirs male of his body, in default of which, to heirs female of his body, and then to heirs of entail in the lands of Rosebery. He was created Earl of Rosebery on the accession of Queen Anne in 1703. He was a Commissioner for union with England and was a Scottish representative peer in 1707, 1708, 1710 and 1713.[3]

Personal life[edit]

On 3 February c. 1690, Primrose and Dorothea Cressy obtained a marriage license. Together, they were the parents of:[4]

Lord Rosebery died on 20 October 1723.[2]

Descendants[edit]

Through his son James, he was a grandfather of Neil Primrose, 3rd Earl of Rosebery, who married heiress Susan Ward (a daughter of Sir Edward Ward, 5th Baronet),[2] and Mary Vincent (daughter of Sir Francis Vincent, 7th Baronet).[2]

Through his daughter Margaret, Countess of Caithness, he was a grandfather of Lady Dorothea Sinclair, who married James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife.[2]

References[edit]

Notes
  1. ^ Sir Archibald Primrose, 2nd Baronet was the son of George Primrose of Ravelstoun (born George Foulis), and grandson of Sir John Foulis, 1st Baronet (who married the 1st Earl's elder half-sister, Margaret Primrose, Lady Foulis.
Sources
  1. ^ George Edward Cokayne, editor, The Complete Baronetage, 5 volumes (Reprint, Gloucester: Alan Sutton Publishing, 1983), volume III, page 337.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003, volume 1, pp. 1277–1278, volume 3, page 3399.
  3. ^ a b "Primrose, Archibald (1661-1723)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  4. ^ G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume V, page 378.
  5. ^ Grants Old and New Edinburgh vol. II p. 257
Parliament of Scotland
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Edinburghshire
1695–1702
With: Robert Craig
Sir Alexander Gilmour
Sir John Clerk
Succeeded by
Peerage of Scotland
New creation Earl of Rosebery
1703–1723
Succeeded by
Viscount of Rosebery
1700–1723