David Scott (of Dunninald)
Encyclopedia
David Scott was a Scottish
merchant and director of the East India Company
, and a Member of Parliament
(MP). He sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain
from 1790 to 1800, and in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until his death.
, before seeking his fortune in India. He built up a substantial merchant business in Bombay
before moving to London in 1786 to direct the English end of his business. He became a director of the East India Company
in 1788.
he was elected unopposed as the MP for Forfarshire, but resigned that seat in early 1796 to contest a by-election in the Perth Burghs
, where he was returned unopposed in March 1796. He was re-elected at the general election later in 1796
, and held the seat until his death in Cheltenham
on 4 October 1805, aged 59, after a long and severe illness.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
merchant and director of the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, and a Member of Parliament
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,...
(MP). He sat in the House of Commons of Great Britain
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
from 1790 to 1800, and in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until his death.
Career
Scott was born in early 1746 at the family home, Dunninald House in Craig, Forfarshire to Robert Scott (1705–1780), the laird of Dunninald, and his wife, Ann. He was educated at the University of St AndrewsUniversity of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
, before seeking his fortune in India. He built up a substantial merchant business in Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
before moving to London in 1786 to direct the English end of his business. He became a director of the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in 1788.
Parliament
At the 1790 general electionBritish general election, 1790
The British general election, 1790 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Political Situation:...
he was elected unopposed as the MP for Forfarshire, but resigned that seat in early 1796 to contest a by-election in the Perth Burghs
Perth Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Perth Burghs was a district of burghs 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 1832, representing a seat for one Member of Parliament - Boundaries :The constituency covered five burghs:...
, where he was returned unopposed in March 1796. He was re-elected at the general election later in 1796
British general election, 1796
The British general election, 1796 returned members to serve in the 18th and last House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain to be held before the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801...
, and held the seat until his death in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
on 4 October 1805, aged 59, after a long and severe illness.