Sir William Montgomery-Cuninghame, 9th Baronet

Montgomery-Cuninghame was born in Ayr to Sir Thomas Montgomery-Cuninghame, 8th Baronet of Corsehill and Charlotte Niven Doig Hutcheson, the eldest of seven children.“Baptism Record” in Scotlands People [http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/people/william_cuninghame_1834_1834/ online database] (purchase required), accessed 18 June 2014

His paternal grandparents were Sir James Montgomery-Cuninghame, 6th Baronet and Janet Cuming (a daughter of Edinburgh banker Thomas Cuming, Esq., of Earnside, Nairnshire and Hatton, Cheshire).{{cite book |last1=Boase |first1=Frederic |title=Modern English Biography: Containing Many Thousand Concise Memiors of Persons who Have Died Since the Year 1850, with an Index of the Most Interesting Matter |date=1921 |publisher=Netherton and Worth, For the author |page=233 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Modern_English_Biography/V4AlIUFSvncC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA233 |access-date=14 February 2025 |language=en}} His mother was the only child of Hugh Hutcheson of Southfield, Renfrewshire.{{cite book |title=Debrett's Illustrated Baronetage and Knightage (and Companionage) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |date=1880 |page=113 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Debrett_s_illustrated_baronetage_and_kni/VNsNAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA1-PA113 |access-date=14 February 2025 |language=en}}

Between April 1849 and 1851 he was educated at Harrow School.

Montgomery-Cuninghame had a long and distinguished military career, which began in 1853 when, on 11 March 1853, he became ensign in the 1st Regiment (by purchase).{{cite news |title=The London Gazette, Issue 21420, p. 740 |date=11 March 1853 |accessdate=18 June 2014 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/21420/page/740| newspaper = The London Gazette}} By 29 April 1853 he had become a second lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade."London Gazette", Issue 21437, p. 1290 in [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/21437/page/1290/ online database], accessed 18 June 2014

File:The Battle of Sebastopol.png]]

In October 1853, the Crimean War broke out and he was present at the battles of Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and the siege and fall of Sebastapol."Harrow School Register 1801–1893", published 1894 in [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=angul%2fara044%2f0177&parentid=angul%2fara044%2f0177&highlights=%22%22/ online database] (subscription required), accessed 18 June 2014 He served in the Crimean War as a lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own). On 20 November 1854 at Sebastopol, the Crimea, he, with another lieutenant (Claud Thomas Bourchier) was with a party detailed to drive the Russians from some rifle pits. Advancing on the pits after dark, they launched a surprise attack and drove the Russian riflemen from their cover, but, in the fierce fighting which ensued, the officer in command of the party was killed. The two lieutenants, however, maintained their advantage, withstood all attacks from the enemy during the night and held the position until relieved next day. For their actions they were subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross.{{London Gazette |issue=21971 |date=24 February 1857 |page=662 }}

He was mentioned in Lord Raglan's despatches and "his bravery elicited the admiration of General Canrobert, who instantly published an order expressive of his approbation.""Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser", 23 December 1854 in [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000464%2f18541223%2f070/ online database] (subscription required), accessed 18 June 2014 Montgomery-Cuninghame was one of the earliest recipients of the Victoria Cross."Evening Telegraph", 14 February 1936 in [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000563%2f19360214%2f025/ online database] (subscription required), accessed 18 June 2014 His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester, England. During the Crimean conflict, he was also awarded the Order of the Medjidie 5th Class”London Gazette” Issue 22107, p. 1264 [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22107/page/1264/ online database], accessed 18 June 2014

and the Turkish Crimea Medal

After the end of the Crimean War, on 22 November 1856, Montgomery-Cuninghame held the rank of captain and became an instructor of musketry at the Rifle Brigade“London Gazette”, Issue 21959, p. 175 [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/21959/page/175/ online database], accessed 18 June 2014 He was still serving in the military when on 14 August 1867, he was promoted to major half pay by purchaseEdinburgh Gazette, Issue 7772, p. 945 [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/7772/page/945/ online database], accessed 18 June 2014

Nine months later, on 22 May 1868, he was appointed lieutenant colonel of the Inns of Court Rifle Volunteer CorpsEdinburgh Gazette, Issue 7855, p. 643 [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/7855/page/643/ online database], accessed 18 June 2014 In 1877, he was a major with the Ayr and Wigtown Militia.Edinburgh Evening News, 27 July 1877 [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000452%2f18770727%2f008/ online database] (subscription required), accessed 18 June 2014

On 9 August 1884, Major Montgomery Cuninghame was granted the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the 4th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.London Gazette, Issue 25385, p. 3572 in [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/25385/page/3572/ online database], accessed 18 June 2014 On 17 October 1888 he was granted the rank of colonel in the Volunteer Force and placed in command of The Clyde Brigade.London Gazette, Issue 25866, p. 5649 in [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/25866/page/5649/ online database], accessed 18 June 2014 He also held the appointment of brigadier general of the Clyde Brigade and then of the Glasgow Brigade of the Volunteer Force.Dundee Courier 12 November 1897 in [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000269%2f18971112%2f054/ online database] (subscription required), accessed 18 June 2014

In July 1897, he was expected to accompany the Volunteer Glasgow Infantry Brigade (which he had commanded since its inception) to Aldershot, where they were to perform duties akin to regular battalions stationed there. This was the first time in the history of the volunteer movement this was to occur. However, during the negotiations for this historic event, he resigned due to ill health.Evening Telegraph, 6 July 1897 in [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000453%2f18970706%2f015/ online database] (subscription required), accessed 18 June 2014

On 28 August 1871 Montgomery-Cuninghame was commissioned as Deputy Lieutenant of Ayrshire.London Gazette, Issue 23774, p. 3904 [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/23774/page/3904/ online database], accessed 18 June 2014

He sat as Conservative Member of Parliament for Ayr Burghs from 31 January 1874“London Gazette, Issue 24064, p. 593 [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/24064/page/593/ online database] accessed 18 June 2014 to 31 March 1880.“Hansard 1803–2005: Contributions in Parliament by Sir William Montgomery-Cuninghame” in [https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/sir-william-cuninghame/index.html online database], accessed 18 June 2014

He was a Justice of the Peace for the counties of Lanark and Wigtown.

On 22 April 1869 at Little Dalby, Leicestershire,Stamford Mercury, 30 April 1869 [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000237%2f18690430%2f096/ online database] (subscription required), accessed 18 June 2014 he married Elizabeth Hartopp, a daughter of Edward Bourchier Hartopp, MP for North Leicestershire, and Honoria Gent (a daughter of Maj.-Gen. William Gent), in 1869. Together, they had nine children, two sons and seven daughters, including:

• Edith Honoria Montgomery-Cuninghame (1870–1949), who married diplomat Sir John Tilley.Evening Telegraph, 29 July 1901 in [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000453%2f19010729%2f048/ online database] (subscription required), accessed 18 June 2014
• Lilian Margaret Montgomery-Cuninghame (1871–1871), who died young.
• Marjory Eva Charlotte Montgomery-Cuninghame (1873–1952)
• Elizabeth Montgomery-Cuninghame (1874–1874), who died young.
• Violet Jessie Montgomery-Cuninghame (1876–1947)
• Sir Thomas Andrew Alexander Montgomery-Cuninghame, 10th Baronet (1877–1945), who married Alice Frances Denison Des Voeux, daughter of Sir George William Des Voeux, in 1904. They divorced in 1925 and he married Nancy Macaulay Foggo, daughter of W. Stewart Foggo, in 1925.
• Edward William Montgomery-Cuninghame (1878–1935), a Lt.-Col. in the Royal Artillery; he married Mary Stewart, daughter of James Stewart, in 1909.
• Letitia Margaret Montgomery-Cuninghame (1880–1880), who died young.
• Bridget Anne Montgomery-Cuninghame (1886–1960), who married Capt. Henry Gilbert Smith-Rewse.Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003, vol. 1, p. 995.

Montgomery-Cuninghame became the 9th Baronet of Corsehill on the death of his father on 30 August 1870.“Bury and Norwich Post", 6 September 1870 in [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000156%2f18700906%2f025/ online database] (subscription required), accessed 18 June 2014Newcastle Courant, 9 September 1870 in [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000085%2f18700909%2f007/ online database] (subscription required), accessed 18 June 2014

He died on 11 November 1897, aged 63 at Gunton Old Hall, Lowestoft, Suffolk after a period of ill health. He was buried in Kirkmichael Churchyard, Ayr with his wife, where a window commemorates him.Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Hansard-contribs | sir-william-cuninghame | Sir William Montgomery-Cuninghame }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20040905033220/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/strathcl.htm Location of grave and VC medal] (Strathclyde)
• [http://www.maybole.org/notables/cuninghame/william_james_montgomery.htm Biography]
• [http://www.memorialstovalour.co.uk/vc50.html Memorials To Valour]

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{{succession box | title = Member of Parliament for Ayr Burghs | years = 1874–1880 | before = Edward Craufurd | after = Richard Campbell}}

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{{succession box | title=Baronet
(of Corsehill) | years=1870–1897 | before= Thomas Montgomery-Cuninghame | after=Thomas Montgomery-Cuninghame}}

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Category:1834 births

Category:1897 deaths

Category:People from Maybole

Category:Nobility from South Ayrshire

Category:People educated at Harrow School

Category:Baronets in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia

Category:British Army personnel of the Crimean War

Category:Crimean War recipients of the Victoria Cross

Category:Rifle Brigade officers

Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Scottish constituencies

Category:UK MPs 1874–1880

Category:Royal Scots Fusiliers officers

Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross

Category:Scottish Tory MPs (pre-1912)

Category:Montgomery-Cuninghame family