Richard Alexander Oswald | |
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Member of Parliament for Ayrshire | |
In office 1832–1835 | |
Preceded by | William Blair |
Succeeded by | John Dunlop |
Personal details | |
Born | 17 February 1771 |
Died | 19 June 1841 | (aged 70)
Political party | Whig Party |
Parent |
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Richard Alexander Oswald (17 February 1771 – 19 June 1841) was a Scottish Whig Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1832 to 1835.
Oswald was the son of George Oswald, a merchant of Scotstoun, Rector of Glasgow University and the grand nephew of Richard Oswald of Auchincruive.[1][2]
At the 1832 general election Oswald was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayrshire. He held the seat until 1835.[3]
Oswald died at the age of 70.
Oswald married twice. His first wife was Louisa or Lucy Johnstone; the poet Robert Burns composed his verses, "O wat ye wha's in yon town?" to her. She died of consumption at Lisbon.[4] Oswald then married in 1817 Lady Lilias Montgomerie, daughter of Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton, who was widow of Robert Dundas MacQue(e)n.[5][6]
Oswald and Louisa had a son, Richard Oswald. He married Lady Mary Kennedy, daughter of Archibald Kennedy, 1st Marquess of Ailsa, and died in 1833.[1][7] The family estates passed to a cousin, James Oswald, in 1841.[4]
Thomas Spencer Lindsey married in 1818 Oswald's daughter Margaret Hester.[8] Margaret Hester Oswald was described in an obituary as "the only daughter of the late Richard Alexander Oswald, Esq. of Auchencruive"[9][10] Oswald's will shows that a beneficiary was a granddaughter Margaret Nina Lindsey.[11]