Sir David Cunyninghame of Milncraig, 1st Baronet (died 28 January 1708) was a Scottish landowner, lawyer and politician. He was a distinguished

advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. Different countries' legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a barrister or a solicitor. However, ...

, an eloquent commissioner to Parliament, and the friend and coadjutor of

Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1655 – September 1716) was a Scottish writer and politician, remembered as an advocate for the non-incorporation of Scotland, and an opponent of the 1707 Act of Union between Scotland and England. Fletcher became ...

. He was created a baronet of Nova Scotia on 3 February 1702, to him and his "heirs successive". A son of David Cunynghame of Milncraig (died 1659) by his spouse, Margaret, daughter of John Masoun of Rosebank, Burgh Clerk of

Ayr Ayr (; sco, Ayr; gd, Inbhir Àir, "Mouth of the River Ayr") is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. It is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire council area and the historic county town of Ayrshire. With a population ...

, his paternal inherited estates were Milncraig,

Ayrshire Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine and it borders the counties of Re ...

, and

Livingston, West Lothian Livingston ( sco, Leivinstoun, gd, Baile Dhunlèibhe) is the largest town in West Lothian, Scotland. Designated in 1962, it is the fourth post-war new town to be built in Scotland. Taking its name from a village of the same name incorporated ...

. Sir David married, firstly, to Isobell, youngest daughter of Sir

James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount Stair (May 1619 – 29 November 1695), Scottish lawyer and statesman, and a key influence on the Scottish Enlightenment. He was a leading figure of Scottish law, “and also one of the greatest thinkers on la ...

. He married, secondly, on 16 March 1698, to Elizabeth, daughter of

Sir Robert Baird, 1st Baronet Sir Robert Baird (1630-1697) was a Scottish merchant, landowner, and investor in colonial enterprise in the Province of Carolina. Family background He was a son of James Baird, a lawyer and a younger son of Gilbert Baird of Auchmedden, and Bath ...

of Saughtonhall.

Successors

He was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir James Cunynghame of Milncraig, 2nd Baronet, Member of Parliament for

Linlithgowshire West Lothian ( sco, Wast Lowden; gd, Lodainn an Iar) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and was one of its historic counties. The county was called Linlithgowshire until 1925. The historic county was bounded geographically by the Av ...

(1715–1722), who died unmarried on 1 February 1747. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his brother,

David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

, a Lieutenant-General in the Army.

References

* ''The Scottish Nation'', by William Anderson, 1867 edition, volume 3, p. 747. * ''Burke's Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage'', edited by Peter Townend, 105th edition, London, 1970, page 712. 17th-century births 1708 deaths Nobility from South Ayrshire Baronets in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia Scottish lawyers Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1702–1707 Burgh Commissioners to the Parliament of Scotland Members of the Faculty of Advocates Scottish landowners Year of birth unknown {{NovaScotia-baronet-stub