Political party Whig Spouse Mary Brydone Nationality British Died July 31, 1859 | Role Diplomat Preceded by The Lord Auckland Name Gilbert 2nd Siblings John Elliot | |
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Monarch William IV
Queen Victoria Born 16 November 1782 ( 1782-11-16 ) Children Henry Elliot, Charles Elliot Parents Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto, Anna Maria Amyand Similar People Gilbert Elliot‑Murray‑Kynynmound - 1st Earl of, Henry Elliot, George Augustus Eliott - 1st, Hugh Elliot | ||
Prime Minister The Viscount Melbourne Succeeded by The Earl of Haddington | ||
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of Minto (16 November 1782 – 31 July 1859), styled as Viscount Melgund between 1813 and 1814, was a British diplomat and Whig politician.
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Background and education
Minto was the eldest son of the Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto, and Anna Maria, daughter of Sir George Amyand, 1st Baronet. He was educated at Eton and St John's College, Cambridge.
Diplomatic and political career
Minto was returned to Parliament for Ashburton in 1806, a seat he held until 1807, and then represented Roxburghshire between 1812 and 1814. The latter year he succeeded his father in the earldom and took his seat in the House of Lords. From 1832 to 1834 he was Minister to Prussia. In 1835 he was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty under Lord Melbourne, a post he held until 1841, and later served as Lord Privy Seal under Lord John Russell from 1846 to 1852. He was admitted to Privy Council in 1832. His influence in the Whig party was partly because his daughter, Lady Frances, was the wife of Lord John Russell.
Family
Lord Minto married Mary, daughter of Patrick Brydone, in 1806. They had at least five sons and five daughters. Their second son the Hon. Sir Henry Elliot was a diplomat while their third son Sir Charles Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound was an Admiral of the Fleet. Lady Minto died in July 1853. Lord Minto survived her by six years and died in July 1859, aged 75. He was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son, William. One of Lord Minto's, Lady Charlotte (died 1899), married the Conservative MP Melville Portal.