Robert Stuart, 11th Lord Blantyre

Robert Walter Stuart, 11th Lord Blantyre, by Ellen Sharpe.
The Blantyre Monument at Erskine, commemorating General Lord Blantyre

Major General Robert Walter Stuart, 11th Lord Blantyre, CB (10 June 1777, Edinburgh – 22 September 1830, Brussels) was a British Army officer who served throughout the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He was Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire between 1820 and 1822, and was appointed a Scottish representative peer between 1806 and 1807.[1][2]

Biography

Early life

Robert Walter Stuart was born in Edinburgh in 1777, the son of Alexander Stuart, 10th Lord Blantyre and his wife the former Catharine Lindsay. His brothers were Gen. the Hon. Sir Patrick Stuart (twin),[3] and Lt.-Gen. the Hon. William Stuart, both of whom also achieved success in the British Army. He succeeded his father as 11th Lord Blantyre, in the Peerage of Scotland, in 1783, aged 6. He was educated at Eton College.[3]

In 1795, Lord Blantyre was commissioned as ensign in the 3rd Regiment of Foot (Scots Guards).

Military career

Blantyre fought with his regiment during the campaign in Holland in 1799. Transferred to the 31st Regiment of Foot, he was promoted to the rank of captain.[4] He later transferred again, this time to the 7th Dragoons. He fought in the Egyptian campaign led by Lt.-Gen. Sir Ralph Abercromby. He fought in the Pomerania and Zealand campaign of 1807. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the 42nd Regiment of Foot.[4] He was aide-de-camp to Lt.-Gen. Sir Charles Stuart.[4]

Blantyre fought during the Peninsular war under the Duke of Wellington, and was noted for his bravery during the campaign. His records of that campaign are held in the National Archives.[5]

He was appointed a Companion, Order of the Bath in 1815, and was promoted to the rank of Major General in 1819.

Death

Lord Blantyre was killed at Brussels on 22 September 1830 by a Belgian insurrectionist. He was shot by a musket ball when looking from the window of his hotel during the commotions at Brussels which comprised the Belgian Revolution.[4] His death was deemed an accidental shooting.[6] His will was proven by probate in January 1832, which bequeathed the Blantyre estates to his eldest son and successor, Charles.[3]

Family

Lord Blantyre married Frances Mary ('Fanny') Rodney (1791–1875), on 20 February 1813 at Edinburgh. She was the daughter of Capt. the Hon. John Rodney and Lady Catherine Nugent, and a granddaughter of Admiral George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney.[3] They had eleven children, of whom only seven survived infancy:[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dod, Charles Roger (1856). The Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage of Great Britain and Ireland, for ...: Including All the Titled Classes. Whittaker and Company. p. 119.
  2. ^ "Robert Walter Stewart, 11th Lord Blantyre, 1775 - 1830. Soldier and Scottish Representative Peer | National Galleries of Scotland". www.nationalgalleries.org. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Cokayne, G.E. (2000). The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant. Vol. 2. Alan Sutton Publishing. p. 185.
  4. ^ a b c d "Blantyre". electricscotland.com. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  5. ^ "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. The National Archives. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Lord Blantyre". New Monthly Magazine and Literary Journal: Biographical particulars of celebrated persons, lately deceased. E.W. Allen. 1830. p. 527.
  7. ^ "Blantyre, Lord (S, 1606 - 1900)". www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
Honorary titles
Preceded by Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire
1820–1822 		Succeeded by
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Lord Blantyre
1783–1830 		Charles Stuart