Cornet William Cunninghame Bontine

William Cunninghame Bontine of Ardoch was the son of R C Cunninghame Graham of Gartmore and Finlayston. He joined the army as an ensign in the 15th (East Riding) Regiment but transferred to the cavalry on 6 Nov 1846, purchasing the rank of cornet.' He retired from the army in 1850. In 1851 he married Hon Anne Elizabeth Elphinstone-Fleeming, daughter of Admiral Hon Charles Elphinstone-Fleeming and Dona Catalina Paulina Alesandro de Jiminez. William and Anne had three sons, one of whom was the colourful Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham (1852-1936), the politician who founded the Scottish Labour Party and was the first President of the Scottish National Party. The painting is by Michael Angelo Hayes who depicted many soldiers and scenes with the Scots Greys while they served in Ireland. William died in 1883.

Regimental Details | Soldiers