| Administrative History | James William Irvine-Fortescue, 15th Earl of Kingcausie, Kincardineshire, was born on 7 Jun 1917, son of Archer Irvine Fortescue, M.B., Ch.B., Colonel, R.A.P.C. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and Aberdeen University, from where he graduated MA 1937 (first class honours). Following military service in India and Ceylon (Major and staff paymaster, R. A. P. C.), 1940 - 1946, he returned to Aberdeen where he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1948. From 1948 - 1953 he was a partner with Bower and Smith, C.A., Aberdeen, after which followed service in a series of prominent local positions, including Justice of the Peace for Kincardineshire (1957-87), Deputy Lieutenant of Kincardine (1975-92), and of Swanbister, Orkneys (which was sold 1965). He was also a member of Kincardineshire County Council from 1952-73, and chairman of Lower Deeside, District Council 1964-73, Grampian Region Valuation Appeal Committee 1975-90, and Commissioner of Income Tax Kincardine Division 1956-92.
He married Margaret Guise, daughter of the late Lieutenant Colonel George Dougal Yates, of Todhillwood, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire on 16 May 1953. |