Richard Alexander Oswald
Encyclopedia
Richard Alexander Oswald (1771 - 19 June 1841) was a Scottish Liberal
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1832 to 1835.
Oswald was the son of George Oswald, a merchant of Scotstoun
, Rector of Glasgow University and a member of the Oswald family of Auchincruive
.
At the 1832 UK general election Oswald was elected Member of Parliament
for Ayrshire
. He held the seat until 1835.
Oswald died at the age of 70.
Oswald married Louisa or Lucy Johnstone. The poet Robert Burns
composed his verses, "O wat ye wha's in yon town?" to her. She died of consumption at Lisbon. They had no children and as Oswald did not marry again the family estates passed to his cousin James Oswald.
Other evidence suggests Oswald had at least one child by Louisa Johnston, a son Richard Oswald who married Lady Mary Kennedy.
This book states that Oswald went on to marry Lady Lilias Montgomerie (daughter of Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton
), and widow of Robert Dundas MacQueen.
This is supported by Oswald’s will which also shows that a beneficiary was his grand daughter Margaret Nina Lindsey,, who was likely the child of Thomas Spencer Lindsey and Margaret Hester Oswald described as "the only daughter of the late Richard Alexander Oswald, Esq. of Auchencruive"
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1832 to 1835.
Oswald was the son of George Oswald, a merchant of Scotstoun
Scotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
, Rector of Glasgow University and a member of the Oswald family of Auchincruive
Auchincruive
Auchincruive is a former country house and estate in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is located east of Ayr, on the north bank of the River Ayr. Auchincruive House was built in the 18th century on the site of an earlier mansion. In 1927 the estate became the West of Scotland College of Agriculture,...
.
At the 1832 UK general election 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 Ayrshire
Ayrshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Ayrshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1868, when it was divided into North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire....
. He held the seat until 1835.
Oswald died at the age of 70.
Oswald married Louisa or Lucy Johnstone. The poet Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
composed his verses, "O wat ye wha's in yon town?" to her. She died of consumption at Lisbon. They had no children and as Oswald did not marry again the family estates passed to his cousin James Oswald.
Other evidence suggests Oswald had at least one child by Louisa Johnston, a son Richard Oswald who married Lady Mary Kennedy.
This book states that Oswald went on to marry Lady Lilias Montgomerie (daughter of Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton
Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton
Sir Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton KT was a Scottish peer, politician, and composer. He was the grandfather of Archibald Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton....
), and widow of Robert Dundas MacQueen.
This is supported by Oswald’s will which also shows that a beneficiary was his grand daughter Margaret Nina Lindsey,, who was likely the child of Thomas Spencer Lindsey and Margaret Hester Oswald described as "the only daughter of the late Richard Alexander Oswald, Esq. of Auchencruive"