Ayrshire > Volume 2

THE BOYLES OF KEI.BURN 169
was at sea for some years, but the only action he seems
to have been present in was when the Ionian Islands
were taken from the French, 1809-10. He was promoted
to Lieutenant in 1814, and might perhaps have stuck
to his profession had his elder brother lived ; as it was,
he did not serve afloat for many years before the date
of his being placed on the retired list, with the rank of
Commander, November 7, 1S56.
The fifth Earl was devoted to sport in every form,
and spared no expense in pursuit of it. In 1817, when
he was but twenty-five years of age, a four-in-hand
match for a considerable bet took place between him
and Mr Wemyss of Cuttlehill, from Princes Street,
Edinburgh, to Oueensferry, a distance of about nine
miles, which was won by the latter — time, half-an-hour.
Lord Kelburn succeeded to Etal at his mother's death
in 1822, and the next year prefixed the surname of Can-
to that of Boyle, by royal license. He was elected M.P.
for Ayrshire, May 1, 183Q, and again at the General
Election of 1841. The following year he was appointed
Lord Lieutenant of Renfrew. Lord Kelburn was very
fond of hunting, and during his father's lifetime he
hunted Ayrshire for several years. He was on the turf
for a long time. He did not win many great races, but,
as a breeder of race horses he did admirable service to
the country. He set himself to produce horses of great
power, stoutness, and staying quality, and after many
years he succeeded. It is from horses bred by him that
many of the best stayers and stoutest race horses of the
present day derive their blood. Several horses from
his stud were excellent sires for hunters ; while others
went to Australia and New Zealand, where animals
descended from them are still in great demand. The
Earl was somewhat eccentric, short-tempered, and
difficult to serve, and it is said that no owner of race
horses ever changed his trainer more frequently ; but
notwithstanding, for many years none was more popular
with everybody connected with racing. For his
character stood high ; all the world knew that, whatever