Patrick Chalmers FSA (31 October 1802 – 23 June 1854) was a British soldier, writer and politician. He was the son of another Patrick Chalmers, a merchant from Aldbar, from whom he inherited

Aldbar Castle Aldbar Castle, or Auldbar Castle, was a 16th-century tower house, located southwest of Brechin, in Angus, Scotland. History The estate was owned by the Crammond family since the 13th century before it was sold to John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis (c. 15 ...

. After being educated in Germany he studied at Oxford University, which he left before obtaining a degree. He then joined the army, serving in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

as part of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, where he rose to the rank of captain. In 1826, after his father's death, he sold his commission and returned to Aldbar. In 1832 he attempted to run for office as the member of parliament for Montrose Burghs, but was defeated by

Horatio Ross Horatio Ross (5 September 1801 – 6 December 1886) was a celebrated sportsman and a pioneer amateur photographer. Background and early life Ross was born at Rossie Castle, near Montrose, Angus on 5 September 1801, the son of Hercules Ross, ...

. He ran again in 1835 and succeeded, being reelected in 1837 and 1841. In 1842 he was forced to

resign Resignation is the formal act of leaving or quitting one's office or position. A resignation can occur when a person holding a position gained by election or appointment steps down, but leaving a position upon the expiration of a term, or choos ...

due to ill-health, having an unidentified disease at the base of his spine, becoming the first Member of Parliament to be appointed as

Steward of the Manor of Northstead The office of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead functions as a procedural device to allow a member of Parliament (MP) to resign from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. As members of the House of Commons are forbidden ...

.The Gentleman's Magazine on Google Books
/ref> In later life he became an amateur

Antiquarian An antiquarian or antiquary () is an fan (person), aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artifact (archaeology), artifac ...

, being appointed a fellow of the

Society of Antiquaries of London A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Societ ...

on 24 January 1850 and writing a book ''The Sculptured Monuments of the County of Angus'' describing work he had come across. His health returned in later years, with some suggesting that he run for reelection in the next general election, but on a journey with some young relatives on a continental tour in 1854 he was struck by smallpox, immediately followed by a second bout of the spinal disease that had forced him to resign. Under the care of doctors not familiar with him, he contracted dysentery, of which he died on 23 June.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chalmers, Patrick 1802 births 1854 deaths 3rd Dragoon Guards officers Deaths from dysentery Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London Scottish Liberal Party MPs Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Scottish constituencies UK MPs 1835–1837 UK MPs 1837–1841 UK MPs 1841–1847