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Hugh Elliot

Hugh Elliot (6 April 1752 – 1 December 1830) was a British diplomat and then a colonial governor.

Hugh Elliot
Governor of the Leeward Islands
In office
1809–1814
Governor of Madras
In office
1814–1820
Personal details
Born(1752-04-06)6 April 1752
Edinburgh, Scotland[citation needed]
Died1 December 1830(1830-12-01) (aged 78)[1]
Somerset Street, London
Resting placeWestminster Abbey, London
Spouse(s)Charlotte Louisa von Kraut (1778–1783)
Margaret Jones (−1819)
Children10
Parent(s)Sir Gilbert Elliot, 3rd Baronet, of Minto
Agnes Dalrymple-Murray-Kynymound
ProfessionDiplomat

Education and early career

Hugh Elliot was born on 6 April 1752, the second son of Sir Gilbert Elliot, and the younger brother of Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto. His mother was the heiress of Hugh Dalrymple-Murray-Kynynmound. Hugh and Gilbert were educated together, first by private tutor, and later between 1764 and 1766 in Paris, where they were mentored by Scottish philosopher and historian David Hume and where Hugh struck up a friendship with Count Mirabeau. In 1768, at the age of 16, Hugh entered Christ Church, University of Oxford, but left after only two years to complete his military education at Metz.

After that, at the still young age of 18, Hugh Elliot took a commission in the Russian army as an officer, and fought in the campaign against the Turks in the Balkans. According to family papers, at one point Elliot was forced to swim in the Danube holding on to the tail of a horse ridden by a Cossack.

Diplomatic career

At 21, largely through his father's influence, he took up a diplomatic post as the British Minister Plenipotentiary to the Duchy of Bavaria. Four years later, he was named as the British ambassador to Frederick the Great in Prussia. He developed a reputation as a great social wit, but worked hard to defeat the entreaties of American diplomats during the American Revolutionary War (including, allegedly, at one point stealing the American dispatch box and copying its contents).

In Berlin he married his first wife, Charlotte von Kraut, but when she committed adultery he challenged her lover to a duel. He himself was wounded in the duel, but received a written apology from his protagonist. The scandal was to later haunt him during his career, and is most often cited as the reason why, despite an exceptional career in the diplomatic service, he never received the customary knighthood.

Elliot then served in Copenhagen 1782–1791, during which time his reputation soared as he was credited for stopping war between Sweden and Denmark, and for helping Gustav III reintroduce absolutism in Sweden. Shortly after arriving at Copenhagen, he heard reports of the continued infidelity of his wife, who had remained in Berlin with their daughter. He decided that he would not allow their child to stay with her mother, and managed to personally carry out an abduction of her from Berlin, and bring her back to Copenhagen with him.[2]

In 1792, Elliot was named as British ambassador to the Electorate of Saxony in Dresden. Shortly prior to that he married his second wife, Margaret Jones, who was 20 years his junior.

In 1803 Elliot was sent to Naples which was then the capital of the Kingdom of Naples, where he survived in tempestuous circumstances until his recall in 1806. After his recall, the family endured a period of considerable financial hardship when no postings were found for the diplomat for a period of three years but upon the death of Lord Lavington, Elliot was appointed to serve as Governor of the Leeward Islands in the British West Indies from 1809 to 1814.

Elliot was a noted abolitionist. Whilst Governor of the Leeward islands, he was reported to be the driving force behind the arrest, trial and execution of Arthur Hodge for the murder of a slave in the British Virgin Islands. His brother-in-law, William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland presented the bill which would become the Slave Trade Act 1807 before the House of Lords.

In 1814, he was made a Privy Counsellor. From 1814 to 1820, Elliot was Governor of Madras.

Family

Elliot married twice:[3]

1) in 1778 divorced 1783, Charlotte von Kraut with one daughter

  • Isabella Elliot (married George Payne 1810, died 1826)

2) in c 1792, Margaret Jones (died 2 March 1819), with nine children:

It has been asserted in several that the ill-fated vessel Lady Elliot (and, afterwards, Lady Elliot Island in Queensland), had been named after Margaret Elliot,[8] but the ship was more likely named after Anna Maria Elliot, the wife of Hugh Elliot's brother, Gilbert, who was Governor-General of India between 1807 and 1813 and also 1st Earl of Minto. Hugh was not knighted or heir to any title of British nobility, and Margaret therefore had no title Anna Maria (later Lady Elliot) was the daughter of Sir George Amyand, 1st Baronet.[9]

Death and legacy

Elliot died at his home in Somerset Street, London on 1 December 1830 shortly after retiring to bed, and was buried, with his brother, at Westminster Abbey[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Gilbert and Hugh Elliot". Westminster Abbey. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  2. ^ Chr. B. Reventlow (ed.), En Dansk Statsmands Hjem omkring Aar 1800, volume 1, Copenhagen, 1902, p. 80-81. The letters of countess Sophie Reventlow in Danish.
  3. ^ Scott, H. M. "Elliot, Hugh". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8664. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. ^ The Quarterly Oriental Magazine, Review & Register , December 1825 issue records among deaths "At Calcutta on the 1st of January at the house of Richard Hunter, esq. in Chowringhee, Hugh Maximilian Elliot, esq. fourth son of the Right Honorable Hugh Elliot, late Governor of Fort William"
  5. ^ "Victorian Royal Navy: James Hanway Plumridge". Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  6. ^ Hayden, Albert A. "Thomas Frederick Elliot". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 5 December 2020. This article was first published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 1, (MUP), 1966
  7. ^ "Emigration from the United Kingdom" (PDF). Journal of the Statistical Society of London. 1 (3): 156-157. July 1838. doi:10.2307/2337910. JSTOR 2337910 – via JSTOR.
  8. ^ "Lady Elliot Island, QLD". Aussie Towns. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  9. ^ Yarrow, Stephen. "Naming Australia's Coastline". Pocket Oz Guide to Australia. Retrieved 5 December 2020.

Sources

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by British Minister to Bavaria
1773–1776
Succeeded by
Preceded by British Minister to Prussia
1776–1782
Succeeded by
Preceded by British Minister to Denmark
1782–1789
Succeeded by
Preceded by British Minister to Saxony
1791–1803
Succeeded by
Preceded by British Minister to the Two Sicilies
1803–1806
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Governor of the Leeward Islands
1809–1814
Succeeded by
Sir James Leith
Preceded by Governor of Madras
1814–1820
Succeeded by

hugh, elliot, this, article, about, british, diplomat, born, 1752, 21st, century, british, diplomat, diplomat, others, named, elliott, april, 1752, december, 1830, british, diplomat, then, colonial, governor, right, honourablegovernor, leeward, islandsin, offi. This article is about the British diplomat born in 1752 For the 21st century British diplomat see Hugh Elliott diplomat For others named Hugh Elliot or Elliott see Hugh Elliott Hugh Elliot 6 April 1752 1 December 1830 was a British diplomat and then a colonial governor The Right HonourableHugh ElliotGovernor of the Leeward IslandsIn office 1809 1814Governor of MadrasIn office 1814 1820Personal detailsBorn 1752 04 06 6 April 1752Edinburgh Scotland citation needed Died1 December 1830 1830 12 01 aged 78 1 Somerset Street LondonResting placeWestminster Abbey LondonSpouse s Charlotte Louisa von Kraut 1778 1783 Margaret Jones 1819 Children10Parent s Sir Gilbert Elliot 3rd Baronet of MintoAgnes Dalrymple Murray KynymoundProfessionDiplomat Contents 1 Education and early career 2 Diplomatic career 3 Family 4 Death and legacy 5 See also 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksEducation and early career EditHugh Elliot was born on 6 April 1752 the second son of Sir Gilbert Elliot and the younger brother of Gilbert Elliot Murray Kynynmound 1st Earl of Minto His mother was the heiress of Hugh Dalrymple Murray Kynynmound Hugh and Gilbert were educated together first by private tutor and later between 1764 and 1766 in Paris where they were mentored by Scottish philosopher and historian David Hume and where Hugh struck up a friendship with Count Mirabeau In 1768 at the age of 16 Hugh entered Christ Church University of Oxford but left after only two years to complete his military education at Metz After that at the still young age of 18 Hugh Elliot took a commission in the Russian army as an officer and fought in the campaign against the Turks in the Balkans According to family papers at one point Elliot was forced to swim in the Danube holding on to the tail of a horse ridden by a Cossack Diplomatic career EditAt 21 largely through his father s influence he took up a diplomatic post as the British Minister Plenipotentiary to the Duchy of Bavaria Four years later he was named as the British ambassador to Frederick the Great in Prussia He developed a reputation as a great social wit but worked hard to defeat the entreaties of American diplomats during the American Revolutionary War including allegedly at one point stealing the American dispatch box and copying its contents In Berlin he married his first wife Charlotte von Kraut but when she committed adultery he challenged her lover to a duel He himself was wounded in the duel but received a written apology from his protagonist The scandal was to later haunt him during his career and is most often cited as the reason why despite an exceptional career in the diplomatic service he never received the customary knighthood Elliot then served in Copenhagen 1782 1791 during which time his reputation soared as he was credited for stopping war between Sweden and Denmark and for helping Gustav III reintroduce absolutism in Sweden Shortly after arriving at Copenhagen he heard reports of the continued infidelity of his wife who had remained in Berlin with their daughter He decided that he would not allow their child to stay with her mother and managed to personally carry out an abduction of her from Berlin and bring her back to Copenhagen with him 2 In 1792 Elliot was named as British ambassador to the Electorate of Saxony in Dresden Shortly prior to that he married his second wife Margaret Jones who was 20 years his junior In 1803 Elliot was sent to Naples which was then the capital of the Kingdom of Naples where he survived in tempestuous circumstances until his recall in 1806 After his recall the family endured a period of considerable financial hardship when no postings were found for the diplomat for a period of three years but upon the death of Lord Lavington Elliot was appointed to serve as Governor of the Leeward Islands in the British West Indies from 1809 to 1814 Elliot was a noted abolitionist Whilst Governor of the Leeward islands he was reported to be the driving force behind the arrest trial and execution of Arthur Hodge for the murder of a slave in the British Virgin Islands His brother in law William Eden 1st Baron Auckland presented the bill which would become the Slave Trade Act 1807 before the House of Lords In 1814 he was made a Privy Counsellor From 1814 to 1820 Elliot was Governor of Madras Family EditElliot married twice 3 1 in 1778 divorced 1783 Charlotte von Kraut with one daughter Isabella Elliot married George Payne 1810 died 1826 dd 2 in c 1792 Margaret Jones died 2 March 1819 with nine children Theodore Henry Elliot died 2 April 1842 Emma Elliot died 10 August 1866 who married Sir Thomas Hislop 1st Baronet Edward Francis Elliot died 11 June 1866 Caroline Elliot Hugh Maximilian Elliot cir 1798 died 1 January 1826 Calcutta India 4 Harriet Agnes Elliot died 17 April 1845 who married Admiral Sir James Hanway Plumridge MP 5 Gilbert Elliot 17 Mar 1800 11 August 1891 Charles Elliot 1801 9 Sep 1875 Thomas Frederick Elliot 15 Jul 1808 12 February 1880 secretary to the Government Commission upon Emigration in 1831 1832 and Agent General for Emigration from 1837 to 1840 6 7 dd It has been asserted in several that the ill fated vessel Lady Elliot and afterwards Lady Elliot Island in Queensland had been named after Margaret Elliot 8 but the ship was more likely named after Anna Maria Elliot the wife of Hugh Elliot s brother Gilbert who was Governor General of India between 1807 and 1813 and also 1st Earl of Minto Hugh was not knighted or heir to any title of British nobility and Margaret therefore had no title Anna Maria later Lady Elliot was the daughter of Sir George Amyand 1st Baronet 9 Death and legacy EditElliot died at his home in Somerset Street London on 1 December 1830 shortly after retiring to bed and was buried with his brother at Westminster Abbey 1 See also EditEarl of MintoReferences Edit a b Gilbert and Hugh Elliot Westminster Abbey Retrieved 15 July 2014 Chr B Reventlow ed En Dansk Statsmands Hjem omkring Aar 1800 volume 1 Copenhagen 1902 p 80 81 The letters of countess Sophie Reventlow in Danish Scott H M Elliot Hugh Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 8664 Subscription or UK public library membership required The Quarterly Oriental Magazine Review amp Register December 1825 issue records among deaths At Calcutta on the 1st of January at the house of Richard Hunter esq in Chowringhee Hugh Maximilian Elliot esq fourth son of the Right Honorable Hugh Elliot late Governor of Fort William Victorian Royal Navy James Hanway Plumridge Retrieved 16 January 2021 Hayden Albert A Thomas Frederick Elliot Australian Dictionary of Biography Retrieved 5 December 2020 This article was first published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography Volume 1 MUP 1966 Emigration from the United Kingdom PDF Journal of the Statistical Society of London 1 3 156 157 July 1838 doi 10 2307 2337910 JSTOR 2337910 via JSTOR Lady Elliot Island QLD Aussie Towns 5 September 2018 Retrieved 5 December 2020 Yarrow Stephen Naming Australia s Coastline Pocket Oz Guide to Australia Retrieved 5 December 2020 Sources EditThe Hanging of Arthur Hodge John Andrews ISBN 0 7388 1931 X External links Edit Archival material relating to Hugh Elliot UK National Archives Diplomatic postsPreceded byLewis de Visme British Minister to Bavaria1773 1776 Succeeded byMorton EdenPreceded byJames Harris British Minister to Prussia1776 1782 Succeeded byThe Earl of CholmondeleyPreceded byMorton Eden British Minister to Denmark1782 1789 Succeeded byDaniel HailesPreceded byMorton Eden British Minister to Saxony1791 1803 Succeeded byHenry Williams WynnPreceded byWilliam Drummond British Minister to the Two Sicilies1803 1806 Succeeded byGen Henry Edward FoxGovernment officesPreceded byLord Lavington Governor of the Leeward Islands1809 1814 Succeeded bySir James LeithPreceded byJohn Abercromby acting Governor of Madras1814 1820 Succeeded bySir Thomas Munro Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hugh Elliot amp oldid 1130191954, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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