Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of Minto

The Right Honourable The Earl of Minto GCB PC
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First Lord of the Admiralty
In office 15 September 1835 – 30 August 1841
Monarch	William IV Queen Victoria
Prime Minister	The Viscount Melbourne
Preceded by	The Lord Auckland
Succeeded by	The Earl of Haddington
Personal details
Born	(1782-11-16)16 November 1782
Died
Nationality	British
Political party	Whig
Spouse(s)	Mary Brydone (d. 1853)
Education	Eton College
Alma mater	St. John's College, Cambridge

Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of Minto GCB PC (16 November 1782 – 31 July 1859), styled as Viscount Melgund between 1813 and 1814, was a British diplomat and Whig politician.

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.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Minto

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Walter Palk Sir Hugh Inglis, Bt	Member of Parliament for Ashburton 1806–1807 With: Walter Palk	Succeeded by Walter Palk Lord Charles Bentinck
Preceded by John Rutherford	Member of Parliament for Roxburghshire 1812–1814	Succeeded by Sir Alexander Don, Bt
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by George Chad	British Minister to Prussia 1832–1834	Succeeded by Sir George Shee, Bt
Political offices
Preceded by The Lord Auckland	First Lord of the Admiralty 1835–1841	Succeeded by The Earl of Haddington
Preceded by The Earl of Haddington	Lord Privy Seal 1846–1852	Succeeded by The Marquess of Salisbury
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound	Earl of Minto 1814–1859	Succeeded by William Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound