John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie

John William Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie, KT, PC ( * January 29, 1847 Aberdour House, Aberdour, † November 25, 1887 in Le Havre) was a Scottish nobleman, soldier and politician.

Family and Title

Ramsay was born on January 29, 1847, the eldest son of the British Vice-Admiral George Ramsay and his wife Sarah Frances Robertson. He had three brothers. On December 6, 1877, he married at St. James's Church Lady Ida Louisa Bennet, daughter of Charles Bennet, 6th Earl of Tankerville. With the death of his father on July 20, 1880 the title of Earl of Dalhousie went over to him.

After a trip to the United States Ramsay and his wife had to stop because of a sudden illness Lady Ramsay's return journey to Scotland in Le Havre. Although she went to medical treatment, she died on 24 November 1887 sepsis. In the following night, Ramsay suffered a stroke and died less than 24 hours after his wife. The couple were buried together in the cemetery of Cockpen, near the family seat Dalhousie Castle. With the death of Ramsay, the title of Earl of Dalhousie went over to his eldest son Arthur George. In addition, he left a fortune of 11,438 pounds sterling. The second eldest son, Patrick Ramsay joined the Foreign Service and became British ambassador in Greece, Hungary and Denmark. The third son Ramsay, Alexander, made ​​career in the Royal Navy and was married on February 27, 1919 Princess Patricia of Connaught.

Professional career

After joining the army Ramsay attained the rank of captain. Between 1874 and 1880 he was Master of the Horse of the Duke of Edinburgh. In 1875, he made ​​also a degree at Balliol College, University of Oxford. For the election of the House of Commons in 1880, he won as candidate of the Liberal Party for the seat of Liverpool. This, however, he had to give up in July of the same year again, to succeed his father as head of the family. He also served as Lord -in- Waiting to Queen Victoria, from 1880 to 1885 member of the House of Lords under William Ewart Gladstone. On December 7, 1881, the Queen raised him to knighthood. In April 1886 he took over as successor to George Trevelyan, the post of Scotland minister in the cabinet of Gladstone. At the same time he was appointed by Queen Victoria as a member of the Privy Council.