John Lamont

John Lamont (b. c.1741) was a Scottish gentleman. He became 18th chief of Clan Lamont in 1767 and inherited the Ardlamont estate in Argyll, deriving income from rents from his tenants. In 1773 he married Helen Campbell and the couple had five children, John, Amelia, Georgina, Norman and Helen Elizabeth.

In 1796, Lamont bought No. 7 Charlotte Square in Edinburgh's New Town for £1,800. Lamont inherited debts, but his extravagant lifestyle, including extended stays in London, where he was involved in Whig politics, exacerbated his financial problems. His son Norman also incurred debts, adding to the family's plight. In 1809 Lamont sold one of his Highland estates for £40,000. He died at Ardlamont in 1816, still heavily in debt, and his son John sold No. 7 Charlotte Square the following year for £3,000.…more