Background
Born James Stuart, he was a younger son of James Stuart, 2nd Earl of Bute, and his wife Lady Anne, daughter of Archibald Campbell, 1st Duke of Argyll.
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James Stuart-Mackenzie
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Career
He was returned to Parliament for Buteshire in 1747, a seat he held until 1754, and then represented Ross-shire from 1761 to 1780. In 1761 he was sworn of the Privy Council. In 1763 he became Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland until 1765 and then again in 1766 until his death.
In 1752 we find that the Honorary
James Stewart Mackenzie, sold Rosehaugh and bought from Sir Thomas and William Nairn the ecclesiastical lands of Kirkhill in Meigle, which belonged to the Holy Trinity of Dunkeld, and upon the site of the former Castle, which had been used as a grange for the Churchmen, he erected Belmont Castle, at a cost of £10,000. He was a very studious man and a great astronomer.
A telescope, purportedly made for him, is in the Robert Whipple Collection at the University of Cambridge. He was responsible for the building of the observatory on Kinpurnie Hill, then part of his estate.
The observatory was designed by Alexander Bryce (1713 - 1786), Minister of Kirknewton and East Calder, but remained incomplete.
They had no surviving children. She died in July 1799. Stuart-Mackenzie survived her by less than a year and died in April 1800.
Membership
11th Parliament of Great Britain. 9th Parliament of Great Britain. 10th Parliament of Great Britain.
12th Parliament of Great Britain.
13th Parliament of Great Britain. 14th Parliament of Great Britain.
