William Ogilvie (Ardglass)

William Ogilvie (1740–1832) was a Scottish-born scholar and tutor.

Life

Details of Ogilvie's early life are unclear. The Dictionary of Irish Biography suggests several possible backgrounds: "His enemies alleged that he was from a humble background, though possibly educated at Edinburgh University ... some even said he had come to Ireland as a drummer in a Scots regiment." Another suggestion was that he was from Banff, Scotland and attended King's College, Aberdeen. He himself claimed to be related to "a baronetical family of Ogilvies".) on 29 April 1799. They had thirteen children.

Ogilvie purchased the Ardglass estate in County Down from his stepson Rear Admiral Lord Charles FitzGerald, and he and Lady Emily lived there for part of their marriage in Ardglass Castle. He was elected to the Irish House of Commons in 1781 for Gorey, and in 1783 for Ballyshannon, serving until 1790. In 1782 he submitted a seventeen-article proposal for the union of Ireland and England, which was unsuccessful.