David Graeme
Encyclopedia
David Graeme was a British soldier, diplomat and courtier, responsible for carrying George III
’s proposal of marriage to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
.
and Catherine Stirling, the daughter of Sir William Stirling of Ardoch
. His parents were both Jacobite
sympathisers, but he himself played no part in the 1745 uprising.
He inherited Braco Castle on the death of his father in 1736 and subsequently inherited also the barony of Gorthie, in Perthshire
, on the death of his cousin, Mungo Graeme. The expenses inherent in his way of life necessitated the sale of Gorthie after his death.
(disbanded in 1763).
on a tour of German courts in order to report on the rival attractions of a number of Protestant princesses. However, in 1761 he was sent to Mecklenburg-Strelitz
to carry George III’s proposal of marriage to Princess Charlotte Sophia. Thereafter he was Secretary to the Queen between 1761 and 1764 and Comptroller of the Queen’s Household
between 1765 and 1774. Between 1764 and 1773, he was also MP
for Perthshire
.
, and Catherine Riccard of Rickarton). They had an only child Catherine; she married on 13 June 1768 the son and heir of Viscount Hampden.
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
’s proposal of marriage to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
.
Origins and estate
Graeme was the son of James Graeme of BracoBraco
Braco is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, with a population of 515 It is located 5 miles north of Dunblane towards Perth off the A9 road.The village can also be accessed via the B8033 route which passes Ashfield and Kinbuck.- History :...
and Catherine Stirling, the daughter of Sir William Stirling of Ardoch
Stirling Baronets
-Stirling Baronets, of Ardoch NS:*Sir Henry Stirling, 1st Baronet, died February 1669*Sir William Stirling, 2nd Baronet, died February 1702*Sir Henry Stirling, 3rd Baronet 18 November 1688 – 24 November 1753*Sir William Stirling, 4th Baronet c...
. His parents were both Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
sympathisers, but he himself played no part in the 1745 uprising.
He inherited Braco Castle on the death of his father in 1736 and subsequently inherited also the barony of Gorthie, in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, on the death of his cousin, Mungo Graeme. The expenses inherent in his way of life necessitated the sale of Gorthie after his death.
Military career
Having entered the army, he rose to the rank of Major-General. In 1760/1, he raised the 105th Regiment of Foot (Queen's Own Royal Regiment of Highlanders)105th Regiment of Foot (Queen's Own Royal Regiment of Highlanders)
The 105th Regiment of Foot was a short-lived British line infantry regiment. It was raised in Perthshire by Maj-Gen David Graeme as a two-battalion regiment on 15th October 1760, by converting independent companies - its name was in honour of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who had already been...
(disbanded in 1763).
Diplomat and courtier
Contrary to the report of Horace Walpole, Graeme was not sent by Lord ButeJohn Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute KG, PC , styled Lord Mount Stuart before 1723, was a Scottish nobleman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain under George III, and was arguably the last important favourite in British politics...
on a tour of German courts in order to report on the rival attractions of a number of Protestant princesses. However, in 1761 he was sent to Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a duchy and later grand duchy in northern Germany, consisting of the eastern fifth of the historic Mecklenburg region, roughly corresponding with the present-day Mecklenburg-Strelitz district , and the western exclave of the former Bishopric of Ratzeburg in modern...
to carry George III’s proposal of marriage to Princess Charlotte Sophia. Thereafter he was Secretary to the Queen between 1761 and 1764 and Comptroller of the Queen’s Household
Comptroller of the Household
The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...
between 1765 and 1774. Between 1764 and 1773, he was also MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Perthshire
Perthshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Perthshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1885, representing a seat for one Member of Parliament .-Boundaries:...
.
Family and descendants
General Graeme married Miss Hepburn (daughter of James Conglaton Hepburn of Keith, in HaddingtonshireEast Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, and Catherine Riccard of Rickarton). They had an only child Catherine; she married on 13 June 1768 the son and heir of Viscount Hampden.