James Townsend Oswald
Encyclopedia
James Townsend Oswald was a Scottish politician who sat in the House of Commons
between 1768 and 1779.
Oswald was the son of James Oswald
a politician of Kirkcaldy
. The Oswald family became the dominant force in Kirkcaldy politics in the 18th century and Dysart, the second largest burgh was controlled by the St. Clair interest. The combined Oswald and St. Clair influence often decided who was to be elected.
Oswald was elected Member of Parliament
for Dysart Burghs in succession to his father in 1768 and was Secretary for the Leeward Islands in 1772. He lost the seat in 1774 when to his surprise a rich outsider bribed his way into Parliament. In 1776 Oswald was elected MP for Fife
until he resigned on being appointed he was appointed Auditor of the Exchequer Scotland on 2 July 1779.
About 1790 he had built Dunnikier House, "a handsome mansion beautifully situated in a richly-wooded demesne".
Oswald died at the age of 65. He married Janet Grey of Skibo
Sutherland, who died in 1843. Their son was General Sir John Oswald
and their daughter Elizabeth married Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin
.
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...
between 1768 and 1779.
Oswald was the son of James Oswald
James Oswald (younger)
James Oswald was a Scottish politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1741 to 1768.Oswald was the son of James Oswald a politician of Kirkcaldy. He was admitted at Lincolns Inn in 1733...
a politician of Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
. The Oswald family became the dominant force in Kirkcaldy politics in the 18th century and Dysart, the second largest burgh was controlled by the St. Clair interest. The combined Oswald and St. Clair influence often decided who was to be elected.
Oswald was elected 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,...
for Dysart Burghs in succession to his father in 1768 and was Secretary for the Leeward Islands in 1772. He lost the seat in 1774 when to his surprise a rich outsider bribed his way into Parliament. In 1776 Oswald was elected MP for Fife
Fife (UK Parliament constituency)
Fife was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 until 1885, when it was divided into East Fife and West Fife....
until he resigned on being appointed he was appointed Auditor of the Exchequer Scotland on 2 July 1779.
About 1790 he had built Dunnikier House, "a handsome mansion beautifully situated in a richly-wooded demesne".
Oswald died at the age of 65. He married Janet Grey of Skibo
Skibo Castle
Skibo Castle is located to the west of Dornoch in the Highland county of Sutherland, Scotland overlooking the Dornoch Firth. Although the castle dates back to the 12th century, the present structure is largely of the 19th century, and early 20th century, when it was the home of industrialist...
Sutherland, who died in 1843. Their son was General Sir John Oswald
John Oswald (British Army officer)
General Sir John Oswald, GCB, GCMG was a prominent British Army officer during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars whose service was conducted in seven different theatres of war. Oswald was born in Fife and educated in France, which gave him both excellent command of the French language...
and their daughter Elizabeth married Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin
Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin
Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin and 11th Earl of Kincardine was a Scottish nobleman and diplomat, known for the removal of marble sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens. Elgin was the second son of Charles Bruce, 5th Earl of Elgin and his wife Martha Whyte...
.