David Graham Drummond Ogilvy, 5th Earl of Airlie

Biographical Summary

"David, Lord Ogilvy, titular Earl of Airlie, born at Cortachy 16 February 1725, and educated at Perth. He joined Prince Charles Edward at Edinburgh, 3 October 1745, at the head of over six hundred men of his own name or from among his tenants. He marched with the Jacobite forces into England, was one of the Prince's council, commanded the cavalry during the retreat to the north, and fought at Cullodeii. After the defeat he lay hidden at Cortachy, but escaped by a boat on the Tay to Norway, where he was detained a prisoner, but escaped later to Sweden, and then proceeded to France. He was given the command by the French King of a regiment of foot called 'Le Regiment Ogilvy,' rose to the rank of lieutenant-general, was much at court, and known as ' Le bel Ecossais.' He is said to have been high in favour with Queen Marie Leczinska. He was attainted by Act of Parliament, 19 George II. 26, but relieved under a free pardon under the Great Seal, 30 May 1778, and an Act of Parliament removed 'certain disabilities,' 23 George III. 34. He declined Napoleon's offer to continue his French pension, and died at Cortachy 3 March 1813.

He married, first (an elopement), Margaret, daughter of Sir James Johnstone of Westerhall, Bart., and niece of Patrick Murray, Lord Elibank, who was born 30 October 1724. She joined the Jacobite camp at Glasgow, and shared all the dangers of the campaign with her husband until just before Culloden. She was taken prisoner at Inverness, and sent to Edinburgh, but managed, 24 November 1746, to escape from prison to France.

She was brave enough to return to Scotland for the birth of her son, but went back to France, where she died in 1757.

Secondly, in 1770, Anne, third daughter of James Stewart of Blairhall ; she died s. p. at Airlie Lodge, Dundee, 27 December 1798. He had issue by his first marriage :

• David Ogilvy, titular Earl of Airlie, born at Auchterhouse 4 December 1751 : being mentally affected, he never assumed the title, and died unmarried at Kinalty, 6 April 1812.
• Margaret, born at Boulogne 23 June, and baptized at the parish church of St. Nicolas there 24 June 1748, married at Cortachy, 26 November 1769, to Sir John Wedderburn of Ballindean, Bart. She died at Ballindean 23 March 1775, having had issue.
• Johanna, born at Paris 1755-56, died unmarried in France 1826."

SOURCE: The Scots peerage, Vol. I, page 127