Sir Thomas Hope, 8th Baronet (1681–17 April 1771) was a Scottish

aristocrat The aristocracy (''from Greek'' ''ἀριστοκρατία'' ''aristokratía'', "rule of the best"; ''Latin: aristocratia'') is historically associated with a "hereditary" or a "ruling" social class. In many states, the aristocracy included the ...

, lawyer and agricultural reformer.

Life

Hope was born in 1681 at Rankeillor House near Monimail in

Fife Fife ( , ; ; ) is a council areas of Scotland, council area and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in Scotland. A peninsula, it is bordered by the Firth of Tay to the north, the North Sea to the east, the Firth of Forth to the s ...

. He was the son of Margaret, the daughter of Sir John Aytoun of Aytoun and Sir Archibald Hope, Lord Rankeillor. His grandfather was Sir John Hope, Lord Craighall, 2nd Baronet Hope of Craighall. The Hope baronetcy of Craighall in the county of

was created in the

Baronetage of Nova Scotia Baronets are hereditary titles awarded by the Crown. The current baronetage of the United Kingdom has replaced the earlier, existing baronetages of England, Nova Scotia, Ireland and Great Britain. To be recognised as a baronet, it is necessary ...

on 19 February 1628 for Thomas Hope, a Scottish lawyer, and advisor to Charles I. Like his ancestors, Hope studied the law. He was admitted as an

advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. List of country legal systems, Different countries and legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a ba ...

8 July 1701 and served as an MP for Fifeshire from 1706 to 1707. He opposed the Treaty of Union 1707 and left politics at that point. In 1723 he founded the Society of Improvers in the Knowledge of Agriculture. He served as the first president of this society with Robert Maxwell of Arkland as its secretary. In 1741 Hope engaged in correspondence with

James Erskine, Lord Grange James Erskine, Lord Grange (1679 – 20 January 1754) was a Scottish advocate, judge and politician. He served as Lord Justice Clerk and a Lord of Justiciary. Life The son of Charles Erskine, Earl of Mar, by his spouse Lady Mary, eldest daught ...

, with a view to ending the incarceration on the island of Hirta of his wife,

Rachel Chiesley, Lady Grange Rachel Chiesley (baptised 4 February 1679 – 12 May 1745), usually known as Lady Grange, was the wife of James Erskine, Lord Grange, Lord Grange, a Scottish lawyer with Jacobitism, Jacobite sympathies. After 25 years of marriage and ...

, proposing that she be allowed to live with relatives in

Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire (; ) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland. It takes its name from the Shires of Scotland, historic county of Aberdeenshire (historic), Aberdeenshire, which had substantial ...

. His efforts were unsuccessful. Hope succeeded to the baronetcy on 5 June 1766 on the death of his cousin Lieutenant-General Sir John Bruce Hope, 7th Baronet (c. 1684 – 5 June 1766). He was an early promoter of agricultural improvement and land improvement. One of his ambitious projects was the draining of the Borough Loch and adjacent marshy land south of Edinburgh which was then put to use as common grazing land. Today that area is known as The Meadows, but historically was often referred to as Hope Park. He built a villa, Hope House, in 1770 on the east side of the reclaimed land.Edinburgh: An Illustrated Architectural Guide, by Charles McKean ISBN 0 9501462 4 2 Sir Thomas died 17 April 1771 and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his grandson, Sir Archibald Hope, 9th Baronet.

Family

Sir Thomas married Margaret Lowis, the eldest daughter of James Lowis of Merchiston on 16 March 1702. The couple had the following children: *Archibald, married Catherine Todd, eldest daughter of Hugh Todd. Died young and the baronetcy passed to his son, Sir Archibald Hope, 9th Baronet *James, of London, merchant, governor of Cape Coast Castle *Thomas,

physician A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the Medical education, study, Med ...

to the English factory at Cartagena *John, a merchant, married Isabel, daughter of Sir Alexander Bannerman, Bannerman Baronet of Elsick *Charles, a captain of marines, died unmarried *Margaret, died unmarried *Agnes, died unmarried *Helen, died unmarried

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hope, Thomas 1681 births 1771 deaths Nobility from Fife Thomas 108 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1702–1707