These are some Elliots who have become famous for a variety of reasons through the centuries. You can also find a list on the Elliot Clan's Scottish website - click here.

On this page:

• First Earl of Minto
• Second Earl of Minto
• Third Earl of Minto
• Fourth Earl of Minto
• George Augustus Eliott, the 1st Baron Heathfield

First Earl of Minto:

Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound – 1st Earl of Minto (1751-1814)
Born Gilbert Elliot in Edinburgh, Scotland on 23 April 1751.He entered the law profession after leaving university. In 1771 he became an independent Whig MP for Morpeth. He was appointed to govern Corsica in 1794. In 1797 he assumed the additional names of Murray-Kynynmound and was created Baron Minto. He had only been a member of the Board of Control for a few months when he was appointed Governor-General of India at the end of 1806. During his time in India the British consolidated their power in the subcontinent and extended their influence into South East Asia. He governed with great success until 1813. In that year he was created Viscount Melgund and Earl of Minto. He died at Stevenage, England on 21 June 1814 and was buried in Westminster Abby.

Second Earl of Minto:

The 2nd Earl (16 November 1782 - 31 July 1859) 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.

He 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.

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.

Third Earl of Minto:

The 3rd Earl, 1722-1777, was a Scottish statesman, philosopher and poet. He served in the House of Commons and was a supporter of the policies of King George III in the American colonies.

Fourth Earl of Minto:

The 4th Earl of Minto,Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC (London 9 July 1845 – 1 March 1914 Minto, Roxburghshire) was a British politician, Governor General of Canada, and Viceroy of India.

He was born in London, the son of William Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 3rd Earl of Minto, and Emma, daughter of General Sir Thomas Hislop, 1st Baronet. After completing his education at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, he was commissioned Lieutenant in the Scots Guards in 1867, but left in 1870. He joined the 1st Roxburghshire Mounted Rifle Volunteer Corps as a Captain in 1872. In 1874, in the capacity of a newspaper correspondent, he witnessed the operations of the Carlists in Spain. He served with the Turkish army in the war with Russia in 1877 and served under Lord Roberts in the second Afghan War (1878 – 1879).

He acted as private secretary to Lord Roberts during his mission to the Cape in 1881, and was with the army occupying Egypt in 1882, thus furthering his military career and his experience of colonial administration. He was promoted Major in 1882. He was military secretary to Lord Lansdowne during Lansdowne's governor-generalship of Canada from 1883 to 1885, and lived in Canada with his wife, Mary Caroline Grey, sister of Lord Grey, Governor General from 1904 to 1911, whom he had married in Britain on 28 July 1883. When he was offered command of the North-West Mounted Police, he decided instead to pursue a political career in Britain.

Having succeeded to the earldom in 1891, he was named Governor General of Canada in 1898. Lord Minto, like his predecessors, travelled throughout the young country — he crossed Quebec, Ontario and western Canada, visiting former battlegrounds where he had served during the North-West Rebellion. He rode throughout western Canada with the North-West Mounted Police, and enjoyed the Quebec countryside on horseback.Lord Minto's convictions about the importance of preserving Canadian heritage led to the creation of the National Archives of Canada. He loved the outdoors, championed the conservation of natural resources and promoted the creation of national parks.

He was appointed honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Governor General's Foot Guards Regiment on 1 December 1898 and was subsequently appointed Honorary Colonel, a tradition that has continued with the post of Governors General to this day.

In 1905, he was appointed Viceroy and Governor-General of India, retiring in 1910. In this, he followed in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, the first Lord Minto.

For his lifetime of service, was made a Knight of the Garter.

In 1924, John Buchan, the author of The Thirty-None Steps and other novels, wrote Lord Minto: A Memoir about the 4th Earl. In the introduction to the book (wich can be read in full by clicking here), Buchan writes:

"In writing this Memoir I have had access to the journal and the private papers of Lord Minto, as well as to the official records of his administration inIndiaandCanada, and I have had the further advantage of talks and consultations with many of his friends. To these I would offer my sincere thanks, and I would gratefully acknowledge the kindness of Lady Hutton, who lent me some of the papers of her husband, the late Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Hutton, and the generosity of the executors of the late Lord Morley and Messrs. Macmillan & Co., who have permitted me to quote extracts from Lord Morley’s letters, both published and unpublished.

"The book owes a special debt to two collaborators. It was undertaken at the request of Lady Minto, who has given me such constant and invaluable help that in a real sense the book is her own. She not only arranged and analysed for me a formidable mass of documents, but from her intimate association with her husband’s work she was able to cast light on many obscure matters, and to reproduce for me the atmosphere of events, which cannot be recovered from the written or printed page. I have had, too, the use of her delightful Indian diary, which I wish could be given intact to the world, for in light and colour those words of an eye-witness are far superior to any Chronicle at second hand.

"The other is the late Arthur Elliot. He was my friend for many years, and only those who had the privilege of knowing that wise and gracious character can realize how much better this book would have been if he had lived to give it his kindly criticism. Throughout their lives the two brothers shared each other’s full confidence. Minto’s letters to him are the most revealing in the correspondence, and from him I received most of the material for the early chapters. My hope is that the Memoir in its final form may be such as he would have approved."

The complete text of the book, which includes a number of photographs of the 4th earl, can be found on the Project Gutenberg Australia website at http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks05/0500261h.html - the book can be freely downloaded from that page.

George Augustus Eliott

The 1st Baron Heathfield KB (25 December 1717 – 6 July 1790) was a British Army officer who took served in three major wars during the 18th century. He fought in the Seven Years War in Germany and in the British attacks on Belle Île and Cuba. He is most famous for his command of the successful defence of Gibraltar when he commanded the garrison during the Great Siege of Gibraltar, from 1779 to 1783 during the American War of Independence. Click here to read more information about the siege. Click here to read a more detailed biography of Barin Heathfield.

Click on the portrait to the right to view a larger version.

His image has been used on a Gibraltar banknote, shown below.