Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Primrose, Archibald (1661-1723)

1197234Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 46 — Primrose, Archibald (1661-1723)1896Thomas Finlayson Henderson

PRIMROSE, ARCHIBALD, of Dalmeny, first Earl of Rosebery (1661–1723), only son of Sir Archibald Primrose, lord Carrington [q. v.], lord-justice-general, by his second wife, Agnes, daughter of Sir William Gray of Pittendrum, and widow of Sir James Dundas, was born on 18 Dec. 1661. In his early manhood he travelled abroad, and served in the imperial army of Hungary. Being opposed to the policy of James II in Scotland, he was on 26 June 1688 summoned before the privy council on the charge of leasing-making and sowing discord among the officers of state; but, through the intervention of the Duke of Berwick, the process against him was countermanded. After the Revolution he was appointed one of the gentlemen of the bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark, on whose death in 1708 the salary of 600l. a year attached to the office was continued to him for life. In 1695 he was chosen to represent the county of Edinburgh in the Scottish parliament, and, on account of his steady and zealous support of the government, he was by patent, dated at Kensington 1 April 1700, created Viscount Rosebery, lord Primrose and Dalmeny, to him and heirs male of his body, which failing, to the heirs female of his body, which also failing, to the heirs of entail of his lands. On the accession of Queen Anne he was sworn a privy councillor, and created Earl of Rosebery, Viscount of Inverkeithing, and Lord Dalmeny and Primrose in the Scottish peerage, by patent 10 April 1703, to him and heirs male of his body, which failing, to heirs female. He was one of the commissioners for the union with England, and after its accomplishment was chosen a Scottish representative peer in 1707, 1708, 1710, and 1713. He died on 20 Oct. 1723. By his wife Dorothea, only child and heiress of Everingham Cressy of Birkin, Yorkshire—representative of the ancient families of Cressy, Everingham, Birkin, &c.—he had six sons and six daughters. He was succeeded in the peerage by his eldest son James, who, on the death in 1741 of his kinsman Hugh, viscount Primrose, inherited the family estate and baronetage of the elder branch of the Primrose family [see Primrose, Sir Archibald].

[Carstare's State Papers; Lockhart Papers; Douglas's Scottish Peerage (Wood); Burke's Peerage.]

T. F. H.