Biography of Archibald Montgomerie 11th Earl Eglinton 1726-1796

On 24th October 1769 Alexander Montgomerie 10th Earl Eglinton [aged 46] was shot and killed by an excise officer or Gaudger (Scots) named Mungo Campbell following a dispute about the latter's right to bear arms on the Earl's grounds. The Earl died from his abdominal wounds late that evening at one o'clock on the morning of the 25th October 1769 at Eglinton Castle. His brother Archibald [aged 43] succeeded 11th Earl Eglinton.

John Brown, tide-officer or tide-waiter (a customs officer who boarded and inspected incoming ships) at Saltcoats, gave evidence that on the day of the earl's death, Tuesday 24 October 1769, he was on duty and walking with Mungo Campbell "They passed through the grounds of Montfodd, and thereafter crossed a burn, which is the march between Montfodd and the earl of Eglintoun's property, and went through lord Eglintoun's ground towards the sea."

The trial of Mungo Campbell, before the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland, for the murder of Alexander Earl of Eglintoun. Extracted from the records of the court:

That the earl faid to him, That he might have a right to carry a gun, but not upon his lands, without his liberty. That the pannel upon this faid to the earl, I beg your lordfhip's pardon: or, I beg your pardon. That at this time lord Eglintoun was difmounted from his horfe, and advancing nearer the pannel, who again was retiring fometimes backwards, at other times tideways, having his mufket dill pointed at the earl. But the deponent did not obferve whether he had his hand upon the cock or not; neither drd the deponent hear any threatnings uled by the pannel againft the earl. Depones, whein the pannel was retreating, he fell clofe by where the deponent was fitting on his horfe, and by his fall frightened the deponent's horfe, fo that the horfe reeled a little; during which time the deponent did not obferve the pannel, but immediately thereafter, having got -his horfe fettled, he faw the pannel half fitting half lying, and faw him point his gun towards Lord Eglintoun, and immediately fire it. — That at this time lord Eglintoun was within two or three yards of the pannel. That upon this lord Eglintoun gave three or four loud cries, that he was gone. Depones, that the pannel fired his gun without putting it to his fhoulder, but raifed the butt above his haunch, and pointed it at the earl.

Campbell was convicted of murder but hanged himself with a silk scarf provided by his friends before the sentence could be carried out.

A map of the lands of Montfode and Ardrossan in 1769 showing the details of the incident.

Alexander Montgomerie 10th Earl Eglinton: On 10th February 1723 he was born to Alexander Montgomerie 9th Earl Eglinton and Susanna Kennedy Countess Winton. On 18th February 1729 Alexander Montgomerie 9th Earl Eglinton died. His son Alexander succeeded 10th Earl Eglinton.