John Arbuthnott, 8th Viscount of Arbuthnott

John Arbuthnott, 8th Viscount of Arbuthnott DL FRSE (16 January 1778 – 10 January 1860) was a Scottish peer and soldier. Known as "the rich Lord" he built the bridge in front of Arbuthnott House, Kincardineshire. He was the first member of the family who consistently spelled his name "Arbuthnott" rather than "Arbuthnot".

Life

He was the son of the 7th Viscount Arbuthnott and Isabella Graham.

He served in the 7th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's) and the 52nd Regiment of Foot, reaching the rank of Captain. On 27 February 1800, he succeeded to his father's titles. Arbuthnot was Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire from 1805 to 1847, and Lord Rector of King's College, Aberdeen from 1827 to 1837.

He had long service in the House of Lords as a representative peer for Scotland between 1818 and 1820, and between 1821 and 1847. He fell from a horse in 1829 and suffered a severe head injury. As a consequence in 1848 he was prosecuted for fraud, forgery and uttering and, although the family paid his debts, the Viscount left Scotland, never to return; his heir ran the estate from 1850. He is thought to have died in Bruges.

Positions held

• Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire (1805-1847)
• Rector of King's College, Aberdeen (1827-1835)

Publications

• On The Potato Disease, Crop 1845 (an account of the beginnings of the Highland Potato Famine)

Family

On 25 June 1805, he married Margaret Ogilvy, daughter of Walter Ogilvy, Earl of Airlie. They had four children:

• John Arbuthnott, 9th Viscount of Arbuthnott (1806–1891)
• Hon. Walter Arbuthnott (1808–1891)
• Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. Hugh Arbuthnott (1812–1866)
• Hon. David Arbuthnott (1820–1901)