Book of Dumbartonshire > Illustrations

XII— JOHN COLQUHOUN, ESQ.
Author of the " Moor and the Loch," " Rocks and Rivers," etc.,
brother of the preceding, is the second son of Sir James Colquhoun,
tenth Baronet of Colquhoun and Luss, and Janet, daughter of the
Right Honourable Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster. He was born in
Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, on the 6th March, 1805, and educated
at Winteringham, Lincolnshire, and at the High School and Uni-
versity of Edinburgh. In 1826 he entered the army, joining the
33d, " Duke's Own," with which regiment he served several years
in Ireland, when he exchanged to the 4th Dragoon Guards, then
quartered at York and Beverley. Having retired from the service,
Mr. Colquhoun married in 1834 Frances Sara, fourth daughter of
E. Fuller Maitland, Esq. of Park Place, near Henley-on-Thames,
Stansted in Essex, and Barcaple in Dumfriesshire, and has a large
family, among whom is his youngest daughter, authoress of " Mr.
Smith," and other popular works. In his youth Mr. Colquhoun was
an accomplished oarsman, as were his brothers James and William,
and, with the latter carried off the Western Cup at the Clyde
Regatta, Helensburgh, in 1833. M r - Colquhoun is a keen observer
of nature, as well as a celebrated sportsman with both rod and gun,
and he has had rare opportunities of storing information on his
favourite pursuits, from his varied experience of country life, having
rented successively the shootings of Kinnaird, Leny, Garth and
Glenfalloch in Perthshire, Langlee on the Tweed, " The Hopes " in
West- Lothian, Kilmun, Sonachan, Scalastal, Glenforsa and Ballimore
in Argyleshire, Blackhall on the Dee in Aberdeenshire, Karnes
Castle in North Bute, Kirkhill in South Ayrshire, and Knockbrex in
Kirkcudbright. He has also for many years taken great delight in
visiting the wilds of Sutherland, Caithness, Ross-shire, Inverness
and the Western Isles, and in frequent expeditions to the Bass and
the May. Mr. Colquhoun resides in his house in the Royal Terrace,
Edinburgh, where he has arranged his beautiful collection of British
specimens, obtained entirely by himself and his sons.