Archibald Primrose, 1st Earl of Rosebery

Archibald Primrose, 1st Earl of Rosebery PC was a Scottish politician.

Early life

Primrose was born on 18 December 1664. He was the son of Sir Archibald Primrose, Lord Carrington, and Agnes Gray. His mother, the daughter of Sir William Gray of Pittendrum, was the widow of Sir James Dundas of Newliston. His father, the son of James Primrose and Catherine Lawson, was the widower of Elizabeth Keith. From his parents marriage, his sister was Grizel Primrose. From his father's first marriage, he had a number of half-siblings, including Sir James Primrose, Maj.-Gen. Gilbert Primrose, Sir William Primrose, 2nd Baronet, Catherine Primrose, and Margaret Primrose.

Primrose was a Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland for Edinburgh county from 1695 until his elevation to the peerage of Scotland in 1700. He also served as Chamberlain of Fife and Strathearn between 1703 and 1714.
He was Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark. He was created Viscount Rosebery in 1700, with special remainder to heirs male of his body, in default of which, to heirs female of his body, and then to heirs of entail in the lands of Rosebery. He was created Earl of Rosebery on the accession of Queen Anne in 1703. He was a Commissioner for union with England and was a Scottish representative peer in 1707, 1708, 1710 and 1713.

On 3 February, Primrose and Dorothea Cressy obtained a marriage license. Together, they were the parents of:

James Primrose, 2nd Earl of Rosebery, who married Mary Campbell, a daughter of Hon. John Campbell and Elizabeth Elphinstone.
Lady Mary Primrose, who married Sir Archibald Primrose, 2nd Baronet, son of George Primrose of Ravelstoun, in 1724.
Lady Margaret Primrose, who married Alexander Sinclair, 9th Earl of Caithness, son of John Sinclair, 8th Earl of Caithness, in.
Lady Dorothea Primrose, lived at the head of Blackfriars Wynd on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to care for her aunt Primrose Campbell, Lady Lovat the widow of the executed Lord Lovat.

Through his son James, he was a grandfather of Neil Primrose, 3rd Earl of Rosebery, who married heiress Susan Ward, and Mary Vincent.
Through his daughter Margaret, Countess of Caithness, he was a grandfather of Lady Dorothea Sinclair, who married James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife.