The lairds of eighteenth century Orkney
The lairds of eighteenth century Orkney were a kindred, a local eÌlite whose more enterprising members showed some capacity to initiate or obstruct changes in accordance with their own interests. At first they were usually merchant lairds, of Scottish descent and connections, episcopalian and Jacobite in outlook, still feuding among themselves and restive under the lordship of the Earl of Morton who held the Earldom estates of Orkney and Shetland. The highlights of Orcadian politics during the eighteenth century, the careers of the Moodies and of Sir James Steuart, the affray at Graemeshall, the impact and consequences of the '45 rebellion, the Pundlar Process, the purchase of the Earldom estates by Sir Lawrence Dundas, the lairds' disenchantment with their new superior and their successful defiance in the election of 1790, all illustrate the transformation of the lairds from troublesome vassels to sophisticated competitors for patronage. Towards the end of the century they were kelp-rich gentlemen, anglicizing their heirs, enjoying the obsequious co-operation of a tamed presbyterian church, increasingly loyal to the British patronage network with its widening opportunities for enrichment by war and empire,
Fereday, R. P.
Landowners
The lairds of eighteenth century Orkney. The lairds of eighteenth century Orkney were a kindred, a local eÌlite whose more enterprising members showed some capacity to initiate or obstruct changes in accordance with their own interests. At first they were usually merchant lairds, of Scottish descent and connections, episcopalian and Jacobite in outlook, still feuding among themselves and restive under the lordship of the Earl of Morton who held the Earldom estates of Orkney and Shetland. The highlights of Orcadian politics during the eighteenth century, the careers of the Moodies and of Sir James Steuart, the affray at Graemeshall, the impact and consequences of the '45 rebellion, the Pundlar Process, the purchase of the Earldom estates by Sir Lawrence Dundas, the lairds' disenchantment with their new superior and their successful defiance in the election of 1790, all illustrate the transformation of the lairds from troublesome vassels to sophisticated competitors for patronage. Towards the end of the century they were kelp-rich gentlemen, anglicizing their heirs, enjoying the obsequious co-operation of a tamed presbyterian church, increasingly loyal to the British patronage network with its widening opportunities for enrichment by war and empire,
laird orkney laird orkney local whose enterprising member show capacity initiate obstruct change accordance interest first usually merchant laird scottish descent connection jacobite outlook still feud among lordship earl hold earldom estate orkney_shetland highlight orcadian politics career sir james impact consequence rebellion process purchase earldom estates sir lawrence laird new superior successful illustrate transformation laird sophisticated competitor patronage towards rich gentleman heir enjoy co_operation tame presbyterian church increasingly loyal british patronage_network widen opportunity enrichment war empire