Career
He was introduced to her by Dean Marley and was described as speaking with a harsh Scots voice, was dour, ungainly, often rude and frequently unshaven. Eccentric in his age this shy, reserved, rather grubby man believed that children were sensible immature people and had an excellent rapport with them. He had a particular fondness for Lord Edward Fitzgerald, preparing him for his military career.
After leaving the army Lord Edward was appointed commander in chief of the United Irishmen just before the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
Ogilvie visited him whilst he was in hiding from the authorities. Ogilvie is known to be the biological father of Lord George Simon Fitzgerald.
Lady Emily escaped the scathing of the Dublin aristocracy for marrying this uncouth, boorish man by moving to Paris after marriage. lieutenant was said she may as well have married her footman! He spent his latter years rebuilding the town which was once a major trading port.
He successfully established a harbour here in 1813 and built public baths making the town one of the most fashionable watering places in the North of Ireland.
A firm believer in self-sufficiency, Ardglass had gardens laid out for residents to grow their own produce. He died fondly remembered as “a man of character, a man of splendid determination, a man absolutely devoid of petty meanesses, and a man of exceptional tenderness”.