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- b. c.1760, 2nd s. of George Clephane, 19th or 20th of Carslogie, Fife, by 2nd w. Anne Jean, da. and h. of Rev. Robert Douglas, minister of Portmoak, Kinross, by Helen, da. and h. of Sir Robert Douglas of Kirkness; bro. of William Douglas MacLean Clephane*. m. 9 Jan. 1806, Laetitia, da. of Jonas Bold of Liverpool, Lancs., 2s. 1da.
Offices Held
Ensign 65 Ft. 1777, lt. 1778; capt. 95 Ft. 1780; capt. 20 Ft. 1785, brevet maj. 1794, lt.-col. 1795, brevet col. 1803, brig.-gen. 1805, ret. 1808.
Like his elder brother William, Clephane was a life-renter in Kinross, in right of his mother's inheritance, in 1788. On William's promotion to a colonial governorship in 1803, he succeeded him unopposed as county Member on the independent interest, though there were some reservations as to his fitness on their part. On 25 May 1803 his brother informed their patron William Adam* that 'Davie' wished for a Guards company to be filled up from the line, a request that he had transmitted to Sir Henry Clinton 'and put ... upon the footing of his getting into Parliament and by that means not clashing with his military duty'. As the Duke of York considered Clephane's remaining with the 20th Foot 'indispensably necessary', Clephane begged Adam on 13 Sept. 1803 to induce the duke to give him a home appointment which would prevent his proceeding to Malta with his regiment. Adam did not succeed. Clephane took his seat, but at the end of the year had to apply for leave of absence.
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