Patrick Milne of Crimonmogate

Patrick Milne (c. 1755 – 16 May 1820), a Scottish landowner, businessman and politician, commissioned the design of two houses, both called Crimonmogate, one in central Aberdeen the other on his estate Estate near Crimond, Aberdeenshire, dating back to the 14th century in Lonmay, Aberdeenshire.

Background

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Milne was the eldest son of Alexander Milne of Crimonmogate, an Aberdeen merchant. His mother, Margaret, was the daughter of Patrick Bannerman, Lord Provost of Aberdeen from 1715 until 1716.^[1] His father was a partner in the linen company Gordon, Barron & Co.^[2] and the Porthill Company that later became Milne, Cruden, & Company.^[3] These companies had extensive factories in Aberdeen and Donside.^[4] After the decline of the Porthill linen company, Milne’s father bought the Crimonmogate estate in Aberdeenshire,^[1] which Milne subsequently inherited.

Career

Milne had a healthy income from overseas business ventures^[5] and tax records of 1797–1798 show he was levied various taxes on the number of clocks and watches,^[6] dogs^[7] and male servants he had.^[8]

Several new settlements were established in the Buchan area after the middle of the 18th century, and this continued into the early 19th century bringing more wealth to the area. Wealthy landowners, like Milne, began to invest profits in the construction of stylish mansions.^[9] In 1810 Milne commissioned the Aberdeen city architect John SmithJohn Smith (1781 – 22 July 1852) was a Scottish architect who contributed significantly to the architecture of Aberdeen. to design a town house for him. This was sited on Union Street, Aberdeen and the house was called Crimonmogate, the same name as his estate in Lonmay.^[10][a]During 1959 initial submissions were made for the townhouse on Union Street to be demolished with the work finally carried out in 1963/1964.^[10]

Milne was involved in “electoral chicanery” in 1807, when together with Alexander Crombie and William Garden, he bribed councilmen on behalf of his relative, William Keith Falconer, the 6th Lord Kintore, in an attempt to have them vote for the election of Sir Alexander Bannerman. This was unsuccessful and James Rae was appointed as delegate instead. Milne and Crombie continued trying to bribe Rae and confined him in Lord Kintore’s residence in the days prior to the election. The attempts were again ineffective as Rae did not change his vote, and Archibald Colquhoun was elected instead.^[1][11]

Lord Kintore died just before the elections in 1812, but was believed to support Milne as candidate for the Elgin burghs that year. Milne was duly elected as member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs on 30 October 1812, a position he held until 11 July 1818. He usually supported the government in votes throughout the 1812 parliament, and is recorded as continually being against Catholic relief.^[1][12]

Milne commissioned Archibald Simpson, an Aberdeen architect in similar standing to John Smith, to design a new mansion for his Crimonmogate estate. This was in a Neo-Greek style and constructed of ashlarMasonry of squared and finely cut or worked stone, commonly used for the facing of a building. granite. It has two storeys with a single-storey centre section.^[13] The initial construction was quoted as costing up to £10,000.^[14] Although the work had been commissioned by Milne, he died in 1820 before the house was completed in 1825.^[15] It is a category A listed building.^[13]

Legacy

Milne was unmarried and without issue.^[1] He died at his Crimonmogate House, Union Street, Aberdeen on 16 May 1820 aged 65 years.^[15][16] He bequeathed his property to Charles Bannerman, his first cousin once removed.^[1] Bannerman had an obelisk monument erected in Milne’s memory in the garden at Crimonmogate in 1821, which was given a category B listing by Historic Scotland.^[17]