Sir James Nasmyth, 2nd Baronet
Sir James Nasmyth, 2nd Baronet (c. 1704 – 4 February 1779),[1] also known as Naesmyth, was a Scottish baronet, botanist and politician. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Peeblesshire from 1731 to 1734, and from 1735 to 1741.
Life
Nasmyth was the oldest son of the lawyer Sir James Nasmyth, 1st Baronet of Dawyck and Posso.[2] He succeeded to the baronetcy when his father died in 1720.[1]
At the 1727 general election, Nasmyth contested Peeblesshire, a seat with about 20 voters which was controlled by the Earls of March. [3] He was defeated by the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) John Douglas, and Nasmyth lodged a petition, claiming that the Sheriff of Peeblesshire had been biased. The petition was rejected.[3]
When Douglas died in 1731, Nasmyth contested the seat again at the resulting by-election, against the former MP Sir Alexander Murray, Bt. By this time the 2nd Earl of March had died, and the 3rd Earl was only 6 years old. Nasmyth won the seat with the support of the Deputy Sheriff, and Murray's petition was rejected.[3]
Two separate election meetings were held at the 1734 general election, so the deputy sheriff made a double return of both Nasmuth and Murray. Murray withdrew his petition,[3] and on 7 February 1735 Nasmyth was declared to have been elected.[4]
Having voted consistently with the government, Nasmyth retired from the House of Commons at the 1741 general election, and did not contest the seat.[3]
For his botanical work, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1767.[5]
References
- 1 2 Leigh Rayment's list of baronets – Baronetcies beginning with "N"
- ↑ Lea, R. S. (1970). R. Sedgwick, ed. "NASMYTH, Sir James, 2nd Bt. (c.1704-79), of Dawyck and Posso, Peebles". The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754. Boydell and Brewer. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Simpson, J. M. (1970). R. Sedgwick, ed. "Peeblesshire". The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754. Boydell and Brewer. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
- ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 1)
- ↑ http://royalsociety.org/uploadedFiles/Royal_Society_Content/about-us/fellowship/Fellows1660-2007.pdf
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Douglas |
Member of Parliament for Peeblesshire 1732 – 1734 |
Vacant double return |
| Vacant double return |
Member of Parliament for Peeblesshire 1735 – 1741 |
Succeeded by Alexander Murray |
| Baronetage of Nova Scotia | ||
| Preceded by James Naesmyth |
Baronet (of Possos) 1720 – 1779 |
Succeeded by James Naesmyth |