# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Montgomery, James (d.1694)

​MONTGOMERY or MONTGOMERIE, Sir JAMES, tenth Baronet of Skelmorlie (d. 1694), politician, was eldest son of Sir Robert Montgomery, ninth baronet, by his wife, Anna or Antonia, second daughter and coheiress of Sir John Scott, knight, of Rossie, Fifeshire. His father died on 7 Feb. 1684, and he was served heir to him on 3 Feb. 1685. In April 1684 his widowed mother made a strong appeal to him to make suitable provision for her and her fatherless children, but to this he replied that, for the sake of peace, he had already conceded more than legal obligations required (letter quoted in Sir William Fraser's Earls of Eglinton, i. 164). On 2 Oct. 1684 Montgomery was imprisoned and fined for harbouring rebels, that is covenanters (Lauder of Fountainhall, Hist. Notices, p. 563), and on 7 May 1685 he and his mother were pursued on account of conventicles held in his father's lifetime, but both pleaded that they were not responsible (ib. p. 699). Montgomery visited Holland in connection with the invitation to William, prince of Orange, to invade England on behalf of protestantism; but Balcarres scouts the notion that Montgomery had any commission to do so, since he possessed no influence, 'except with some few of the most bigoted fanatics' (Memoirs, p. 8). He was chosen member for the county of Ayr in the Convention parliament of 1689, when he distinguished himself by his eloquent advocacy of the resolution proposed by Sir John Dalrymple, that King James had forfeited his throne and kingdom. The resolution being carried, Montgomery was named one of three commissioners that for the shires to offer the Scottish crown to William and Mary. His ambition had already selected the office of secretary of state for Scotland, as that alone commensurate with his services and abilities; and when George, first earl of ​Melville [q. v.], chiefly on account of his moderate opinions, was preferred, Montgomery, although offered the office of lord justice clerk, so deeply resented the supposed slight that he determined at all hazards to have revenge, and immediately set himself to organise a political society called The Club, the main purpose of which was to concert measures against the government. In parliament he led with great ability and eloquence the opposition against Sir John Dalrymple, the two, according to Balcarres, frequently scolding each other 'like watermen' (ib. p. 59). Towards the close of the session he went to London with his closest confederates, the Earl of Annandale and Lord Ross, to present a declaration of Scottish grievances to the king, but the king declined to listen to their complaints. Thereupon Montgomery entered into communication with the Jacobite agent, Neville Payne [q. v.], and they concerted together a plot for the restoration of King James, known as the Montgomery Plot, each being, according to Balcarres, more or less the dupe of the other (ib. p. 57). Montgomery's coalition with the Jacobites proved to him rather a hindrance than a help in parliament, and as soon as his influence began to wane the Jacobites revolted against him. A quarrel ensued, and soon afterwards Lord Ross made confession of his connection with the plot to a presbyterian minister, who informed Melville. On learning this Montgomery went to Melville, and on promise of an indemnity confessed all he knew, making it, however, a condition that he should not be obliged to be 'an evidence or legal witness' (Leven and Melville Papers, pp. 457, 479, 520). Melville sent him, with a recommendation in his favour, to Queen Mary, to whom he pleaded for 'some place which might enable him to subsist with decency' (Macaulay, History, ed. 1883, ii. 224). She wrote on his behalf to King William, but the king had conceived such an antipathy to him that he declined to utilise his services on any consideration (Balcarres, Memoirs, p. 66). According to Burnet, Montgomery's ' art in managing such a design, and his firmness in not discovering his accomplices raised his character as much as it ruined his fortunes' (Own Time, ed. 1838, p, 561). After lying for some time in concealment in London, he passed over to Paris, where he was well received by the Jacobites (Balcarres, Memoirs, p. 66). Some time afterwards he returned to London, and on 11 Jan. 1693-4 was taken into custody, on the accusation of being the author of several virulent papers against the government (Luttrell, Short Relation, iii. 252); but on the 18th he made his escape from the house of the messenger where he was confined, the two sentinels who guarded the door leaving their arms and going with him (ib. p. 255). He escaped to the continent, reaching Paris by 15 Feb. (ib. p. 269), and he died at St. Germains before 6 Oct. 1694 (ib. p. 380). By Lady Margaret Johnstone, second daughter of James, earl of Annandale, he had two sons, Robert (1680-1731) [q. v.] and William.
Montgomery was the author of 'The People of England's Grievances to be enquired into and redressed by their Representatives in Parliament,' reprinted in 'Somers Tracts,' x. 542-6. The authorship of other political pamphlets attributed to him has been claimed by Robert Ferguson [q. v.] the Plotter, and in some instances there may have been a joint authorship. A portrait of Montgomerie in armour has been engraved.
[Balcarres's Memoirs, Lauder of Fountainhall's Historical Notices, and Leven and Melville Papers, all in the Bannatyne Club; Burnet's Own Time; Luttrell's Short Relation; Carstares State Papers; Macaulay's Hist. of England; Ferguson's Robert Ferguson the Plotter; Noble's Continuation of Granger, i. 219-20; Douglas's Scottish Peerage (Wood), i. 509; Sir William Fraser's Montgomeries, Earls of Eglinton, i. 162-5.]
T. F. H.