Sir Alexander Cuninghame, 1st Baronet


Sir Alexander Cuninghame, 1st Baronet was a Scottish landowner and aristocrat.

Early life

Cuninghame was born in. He was the only son of Alexander Cuninghame and Anne Crawfurd. His sister, Margaret Cuninghame, was the wife of George Meikle of Lesmahagow.
His paternal grandparents were Alexander Cuninghame, 5th Laird of Corsehill, and Mary Houstoun. Through his paternal line, he was a great-great-great-grandson of the 4th Earl of Glencairn through the Earl's second son, Hon. Andrew Cunningham. His maternal grandparents were John Crawfurd of Kilbirnie and Lady Mary Cuninghame. Through his maternal uncle, Sir John Crawfurd, 1st Baronet, MP for Ayrshire, he was a first cousin of Margaret Crawfurd and Ann Crawfurd.

Career

In 1663, his grandfather settled the family estate of Corsehill on him and his affianced wife, reserving to himself the life rent. Reportedly, he was ruined by guaranteeing the credit of his spendthrift cousin, Sir David Cuninghame, 4th Baronet of Robertland.
A Scottish baron and landowner in Dumfriesshire, on 26 February 1672, he was created the 1st Baronet Cuninghame of Corsehill in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia, with remainder to heirs male of the body.

Personal life

In, he married Mary Stewart, a daughter of John Stewart and Mary Stirling. Among her siblings were James Stewart of Lumlock and Sir Archibald Stewart, 1st Baronet, of Blackhall. Together, they were the parents of:
Sir Alexander died on 25 March 1685 and was succeeded by his only son, Alexander.

Descendants

Through his son Alexander, he was a grandfather of Sir David Cuninghame, 3rd Baronet, who married Penelope Montgomery by whom he had three sons and a daughter, the eldest of whom, Alexander, married Elizabeth Montgomery, and was father of the 4th, 5th and 6th Baronets.