Archibald Montgomerie, 11th Earl of Eglinton (18 May 1726 – 30 October 1796) was a Scottish soldier and Member of Parliament (MP) in the Westminster (British) Parliament.
He was the second son of Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton.
Montgomerie was educated at Eton College and Winchester School. He joined the Army in 1743, becoming a Major General in 1772, a Lieutenant General in 1777 and a General in 1793.
During his army career Montgomerie raised a Highland battalion. He participated, along with George Washington in the Forbes expedition against Fort Duquesne in 1758.
He joined the Army in 1743, becoming a Major General in 1772, a Lieutenant General in 1777 and a General in 1793.
During his army career Montgomerie raised a Highland battalion.
He participated, along with George Washington in the Forbes expedition against Fort Duquesne in 1758. In 1760, he commanded an expedition against the Cherokee during the Anglo-Cherokee War.
On his return, he was pressed by his mother to recount "the dangers he had passed" and
sufferings he had endured; he replied that "the chief endurance was from the sting of the vegetable nettle and animal muskito on my kilted houches!"
He was elected for two seats in the 1761 general election. He chose to give up Wigtown Burghs, to sit for Ayrshire. He served in the House of Commons 1761-1768.
He inherited the Earldom on 25 October 1769 when his brother Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton was murdered. He served as a Scottish representative peer 1776-1796. He was Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire 1794-1796.
On his death the Earldom passed to a third cousin, Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton.
One of the lesser know episodes of Robert Burns' life concerns the Eglington family. Highland Mary (Mgt Campbell) was employed as a dairy
maid by a cousin of the 11th Earl of Eglington, Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield, who succeeded to the Earldom on Archibald's death in 1796. Burns fell madly in love with her during the latter half of 1785, at the same time that he was involved with Jean Armour.
Some believe that Burns stopped the relationship with Highland Mary when Jean became pregnant, and only when Jean's father rejected Burns as unsuitable for his daughter, did Burns take up with Highland Mary again.
Burns appeared to try to keep the identity of Highland Mary a secret which has baffled biographers for centuries.
The Seat of The Earls of Montgomerie was Eglinton Castle, just south of Kilwinning.
Archibald Montgomerie was initiated in Lodge Mother Kilwinning in 1742 and served as Depute Master of that Lodge for a number of years. He was elected as Grand Master of The Mother Lodge of Kilwinning for life in 1778.
He joined the Army in 1743, becoming a Major General in 1772, a Lieutenant General in 1777 and a General in 1793.
During his army career Montgomerie raised a Highland battalion.
Archibald Montgomerie was initiated in Lodge Mother Kilwinning in 1742 and served as Depute Master of that Lodge for a number of years. He was elected as Grand Master of The Mother Lodge of Kilwinning for life in 1778.
