Captain John Porteous was a Scottish military officer who served in the Edinburgh City Guard and played a major role in the Porteous Riots, which resulted in his death.
Captain John Porteous ( – 7 September 1736) was a Scottish military officer who served in the Edinburgh City Guard and played a major role in the Porteous Riots, which resulted in his death.
Early life
John Porteous was born at The Glen, Quair Water, near Traquair, in the Borders, the son of Stephen Porteous, a tailor of the Canongate, Edinburgh. Little is known of his early life, except that he soon found he was not suited to his father's calling. Having served in the Scots Brigade in the Dutch Republic, in 1716 he became drill master to the Edinburgh force in anticipation of a Jacobite rising, and two years later was appointed as ensign to the City Guard, and was promoted in 1726 to the rank of captain. Porteous seems to have been an overbearing official, despised by the mob and the underclasses of Edinburgh society.
In 1724 he lost a wager of 20 guineas in playing a game of golf on Leith Links against Alexander Elphinstone, the brother of Lord Balmerino. The wager attracted a small crowd, including the Duke of Hamilton and George Douglas.
Riot
