David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow


David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow, was a British naval commander and colonial governor. He served as Governor of New Zealand between 1892 and 1897.

Background

Boyle was the son of Patrick Boyle. His mother was Mary Frances Elphinstone-Dalrymple, daughter of Sir Robert Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone, 1st Baronet. He succeeded in the earldom in 1890.

Royal Navy

Boyle served with the Royal Navy during the Crimean and Second Opium wars. He was commander of when the ship wrecked in 1874. He retired with the rank of captain.

Governor of New Zealand

Boyle was the Governor of New Zealand from 1892 to 1897. He was the cousin of another Governor, Sir James Fergusson. The Wellington suburb of Kelburn in New Zealand is named after Viscount Kelburn, the son of Boyle.
Upon his return to the UK, Lord Glasgow was elevated to the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1897 as Baron Fairlie, of Fairlie in the County of Ayr, to enable him to sit in the House of Lords.

Later life

Lord Glasgow took an active interest in the city of Glasgow.
He received the honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Glasgow when they celebrated the 450th jubilee in June 1901.

Family

Lord Glasgow married Dorothea Elizabeth Thomasina Hunter-Blair, on 23 July 1873. They had five sons and three daughters:
Lord Glasgow died in December 1915, aged 82, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son, Patrick. The Countess of Glasgow died in January 1923.