Brigadier-General John Middleton MP (1678 –1739) was a British Army officer and Scottish Whig

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...

almost continuously between 1713 and 1739.

Early life

He was baptised in

Aberdeen Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...

on the 27th of September 1678. Middleton was the fourth (but first surviving) son and sixth child of Rev Prof George Middleton DD (1645-1726) and Janet or Jane Gordon, daughter of James Gordon of Seaton. He was grandson of Alexander Middleton (younger brother of

John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton ( – 3 July 1674) was a professional soldier and mercenary from Kincardineshire in Scotland. Beginning his career in the Thirty Years War, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms he fought for the Covenanters ...

) and Margaret Gordon. Both Alexander and George Middleton served as Principal of

King's College, Aberdeen King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland, the full title of which is The University and King's College of Aberdeen (''Collegium Regium Aberdonense''), is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and now an integral part of the Univer ...

. John's younger brother, Robert, was father of

Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham Admiral Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham, PC (14 October 172617 June 1813) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. As a junior officer he saw action during the Seven Years' War. Middleton was given command of a guardship at the Nore, a Roy ...

. In about 1712, John Middleton married Elizabeth Cunningham, daughter of William Cunningham of Enterkin, Ayr.

Military career

Middleton obtained a commission in the Army in the reign of King William III, and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1706. He served in Spain in the

War of the Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict fought between 1701 and 1714. The immediate cause was the death of the childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700, which led to a struggle for control of the Spanish E ...

, and also on board the fleet, where his company was employed as marines. He was many years an officer in the 25th Regiment of Foot, in which corps he rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and he was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1711. He commanded the 25th Regiment in Scotland under the Duke of Argyll during the rebellion of the Earl of Mar, and in 1721 he was rewarded with the colonelcy of that corps. He commanded the 25th until 29 May 1732, when he was removed to the 13th Regiment of Foot. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in 1735.

Political career

Middleton was closely attached to the Duke of Argyll from 1709 or before and followed the Duke's political affiliations. He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Aberdeen Burghs at the 1713 general election. At the 1715 general election he was defeated at the poll, but petitioned and was seated as Whig MP for Aberdeen Burghs on 22 July 1715. In 1717 he followed the Duke of Argyll into opposition and two years later followed him back to the government side. At the 1722 general election he was again defeated at the poll at Aberdeen and then seated on petition on 25 October 1722. He was returned unopposed in the general elections of 1727 and 1734 and remained MP until his death in 1739. Middleton died in London of a "mortification of the bowels" on 4 May 1739, and was buried in Westminster (Abbey?).https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KC4V-CH1/john-middleton-1678-1739 He left two sons and five daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Middleton, John 1678 births 1739 deaths British Army brigadiers British MPs 1713–1715 British MPs 1715–1722 British MPs 1722–1727 British MPs 1727–1734 British MPs 1734–1741 King's Own Scottish Borderers officers Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Scottish constituencies Somerset Light Infantry officers British military personnel of the War of the Spanish Succession People of the Jacobite rising of 1715 Military personnel from Aberdeen