Stair, a village in Ayrshire which gives the title of Earl to the ancient Scottish family of Dalrymple. A Dalrymple of Stair was among the Lollards of Kyle summoned before James IV.; his great-grandson was one of the earliest to make public profession of the Reformed doctrines.—James Dalrymple of Stair (1619-95) studied at Glasgow University, served in the army, and acted six years as Regent in Philosophy at Glasgow, next joined the bar (1648), and scarcely ten years after was recommended by Monk to Cromwell for the office of a lord of session, as 'a very honest man and a good lawyer.' He was confirmed in office, and created a Nova Scotia baronet in 1664. It was the death of his daughter Janet in 1669, within a month of her marriage to Dunbar of Baldoon, that gave Scott the tragic plot of The Bride of Lammermoor. His wife, who survived till 1692, was credited in Galloway with being a witch. About the close of 1670 Dalrymple was made president of the Court of Session and member of the Privy-council, and during the next ten years, if he distinguished himself by reforms in legal process, he must have winked hard at much wickedness and illegality in high places. The Duke of York took up the work of government at Edinburgh in 1679, and Dalrymple, who honestly hated Popery at least, soon found himself obliged to retire to the country. In his leisure he prepared his famous work, the Institutes of the Law of Scotland. His wife and his tenants were devoted to the Covenant, and accordingly he soon became involved in a fierce dispute with Claverhouse, who was ravaging Galloway with a military commission. In October 1682 he found it necessary to flee to Holland, returned with the Prince of Orange, and soon after was restored to the presidency in Lockhart's room. He was created Viscount of Stair, Lord Glenluce and Strauser in 1690, was much molested by factious attacks during his last years, and died at Edinburgh, 25th November 1695. See J. G. Mackay's Memoir (Edin. 1873), and The Stair Annals, edited by J. Murray Graham (Edin. 1875).—His second son was Sir James Dalrymple (q.v.). Collaterally connected was the learned Lord Hailes (q.v.), whose own younger brother was the hydrographer Alexander Dalrymple (q.v.).
The eldest son, Sir John Dalrymple, first Earl of Stair, was born in 1648, and followed the hereditary profession of his family. He came into violent collision with Claverhouse in Galloway, and was flung into prison in Edinburgh and heavily fined, but early in 1687, by a remarkable turn in the royal policy, 'the springs' of which Wodrow prudently leaves 'to the civil historian of the period,' he had all his charges remitted, and became king's advocate, Lord Justice-clerk the next year. He acquiesced easily in the accession of William, became Lord Advocate, and for some years as Secretary of State had the chief management of Scottish affairs. On his shoulders, therefore, with Breadalbane and the king, mainly rests the infamy of the massacre of Glencoe (q.v.). He was created Earl of Stair in April 1703. He took an active part in the debates and intrigues that preceded the carrying of the Treaty of Union, and indeed fell a victim to his zeal in its cause, dying suddenly the morning after a long and vehement debate, 8th January 1707. 'He was,' says Defoe, 'justly reputed the greatest man of counsel in the kingdom of Scotland.' See Omond's Lord Advocates of Scotland (vol. i.); and J. Murray Graham's Stair Annals (2 vols. 1875).—John Dalrymple, second Earl of Stair, was the second son of the second viscount and first earl, and was born at Edinburgh, 20th July 1673. At eight he shot his elder brother dead by accident at the family seat of Carscreugh Castle in Wigtownshire. He was brought up in Holland, studied at Leyden, and early attracted the notice of the Prince of Orange. He volunteered for service, was present at Steenkirk, and by 1701 was lieutenant-colonel in the Scots foot-guards, in 1706 colonel of the Cameronians. He was aide-de-camp to Marlborough in 1703, and showed conspicuous courage at Venlo. He commanded a brigade of infantry at Ramillies, and was rewarded with the colonelcy of the Scots Greys in August 1706. He distinguished himself greatly at Oudenarde (1708), was promoted major-general, and commanded his brigade at the siege of Lille and at Malplaquet. His rank of general he received in 1712, after which he retired to Edinburgh to intrigue for the Hanoverian succession. In 1714 he married the beautiful and strong-willed widow, Eleanor, Viscountess Primrose, forcing her consent for the sake of her reputation by the artifice of concealing himself in her house and showing himself at her bedroom window. This audacious ruse afforded a foundation for Scott's story, My Aunt Margaret's Mirror. On the accession of George I. Stair returned to favour, and soon after was appointed ambassador to Paris. He played a great rôle under the regent Orleans, lived with splendid magnificence, yet checkmated at every turn the Pretender and the vast schemes of Alberoni. Recalled in 1720 with fortunes sadly impaired, he mainly devoted himself thereafter to agricultural improvements, introducing turnips and cabbages, while his clever wife became a leader of society in Scotland, and helped to make Moffat the fashion. On Walpole's fall Stair was made field-marshall (1742), and appointed governor of Minorca, without residence. He took the command of the army which was to act in support of Maria Theresa in conjunction with a Dutch and Austrian force, but had already lost ground strategically in presence of Noailles, when George II. came to take command in person. Stair showed his usual courage at Dettingen, but after the victory was allowed to resign. He died at Queensberry House, Edinburgh, 9th May 1747. See the Annals by Graham.