June 30th 1783

The last Earl of Menteith

The roll was called and when the name of Earl of Menteith was mentioned a young man stood up who, “being asked to describe himself because that the title had been for some time in abeyance and disuse of any person taking it up, he answered that he was a student of medicine in Edinburgh and was executor confirmed to the last Earl as would appear from an extract of the testament lying in his process before the Lords of Council and Session.” 

Certainly he was related though whether he was entitled to call himself Earl of Menteith is more problematical. He was somewhat eccentric and became more so as for the next seventeen years he continued to present himself at various meetings of the Scottish peers. Finally, he was summoned to appear before the Committee of Privileges of the House of Lords. He refused, or was unable to appear, and was thenceforth prohibited from using the title.

This prohibition had little effect on him, though he no longer attended the meetings of the peers in Edinburgh. Henceforth he lived on the charity of old friends and neighbours. His eccentricity slowly developed into a gentle state of madness. He wandered from house to house. “He was just a man asking for charity. He went into farm houses and asked victuals, what they would give him, and into gentlemen’s houses.” 

Finally, on June 30th 1783 he was found lying dead in a field in the parish of Borhill - possibly the last Earl of Menteith.