Biography

John McAdam. (-1790) (aka. Laird of Craigengillan)

Laird of Craigengillan. Married to Katherine Cunningham, dau of Sir William Cunningham. The couple had at least three children, Margaret (d. 1801), Jane and Quintin (1769-1805). Owner of Berboth (Barbeth?), Straiton and Dunaskin, Dalmellington.

Life with James Boswell:

McAdam was a close friend of the Boswells of Auchinleck. Boswell and James Chalmers dined with the Laird, at his seat at Berboth, on 14/9-62. Boswell described it as "an agreeable place enough of the kind, the fields being brought to a good verdure and the rising ground planted. We were entertained with a hearty welcome". The Laird of Camlarg, a sisterson of McAdam's, was present as well. The conversation touched mainly upon subjects concerning practical agriculture, so when Boswell had "exhausted all [his] little stock of country conversation [and] no other could be well understood, at least could not please, [he] was heartily wearied".¹

External links:

• The Burns Enc.: McAdam of Craigengillan
• McAdam House of Craigengillan - a history of the family and the various branches

This article was last updated at February 01 2008 09:33:23 CET

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