A hero's Christening robe

There is a wonderful local museum at the town of Dalbeattie which is crammed with fascinating items.

The small museum is a key part of local life and there so many exhibits that there is always something to catch the eye.

In one case there is a beautiful lace Christening robe. This bears a card: “Lady Blantyre's eldest son was Christened in this robe in 1775.”

If there is a mistake in the date, then a story unfolds.

The title of Lord Balantyre was created in 1600 in the Peerage of Scotland for Walter Stewart, who was educated with King James VI of Scotland, who also became James I, King of England and Ireland on the Union in 1707. He was the first monarch to describe himself as King of Great Britain. Walter Stewart was closely involved in arranging the Union. He died on November 5, 1604.

Fast forward ,and we find Robert Walter Stuart (spelling of name had changed) as 11th Lord Balantyre. He was born on June 10, 1777. Perhaps this is the person whose Christening robe is displayed in Dalbeattie museum. The 11th Lord became a distinguished soldier who saw many battles and campaigns, and served all over Europe and also in Egypt and New Zealand. He entered the 3rd Regiment of the Foot Guards at the age of 18. Then he became a captain of the 32nd regiment of Foot, then Lieutenant Colonel of the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment – an ancestor of the Black Watch (now an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.) The 42nd fought with great distinction at the Battle of Quatre Bras in 1816, where it was Mentioned in Despatches by Wellington and it also fought at the Battle of Waterloo.

Could the Christening robe at Dalbeattie Museum actually have been used for the 11th Lord Balantyre?

The last Lord Balantyre, the 12th, was born in 1818 and died in 1900 when the title became extinct as there was no heir. Lots of land obviously went with the title. In 1830 he possessed no less than 4,100 acres, which add up to about 57 square kilometres.

Dalbeattie Museum, 81 High Street, Dalbeattie, DG5 4BS. Open April to October: Monday to Saturday 11am to 4pm; Sundays 2pm to 4pm. Entry free. Private viewings can be arranged. Full wheelchair access. Telephone: 01556 611 657. email: info@dalbeattiemuseum.co.uk. Website: www.dalbeattiemuseum.co.uk.

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