Annotation:Honorable Captain Elphinston's
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HONORABLE CAPTAIN ELPHINSTON'S. AKA - "Captain Elphinston." Scottish, Strathspey. G Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'B. Composed by Nathaniel Gow (1763-1831) in honor of George Keith-Elphinstone (1746-), 5th son of Charles, 10th Lord Elphinstone. He had little hope inheriting a title and determined to make a career for himself in the British navy where he became one of the most celebrated officers of the Napoleonic era. He made post-captain in 1775 and served under Lord Howe in the American Revoution. Elphinstone had a distinguished career and garnered a reputation as an aggressive and capable commander. During his American adventure Elphinstone and his ship was chosen by prince William Henry, afterwards kin William IV but then a midshipmen, as his place of service. The captain returned to Britain to marry in 1787 Jane, daughter of William Mercer, Perthshire-a short-lived union as she died two years later (he married again in 1808 to a daughter of the MP for Southward). He was elected MP several times. In 1793 hostilities with France resumed and Elphinstone was again in command of a ship of 74 guns under Lord Hood in the Mediterranean. He continued to advance and in 1794 became Rear-Admiral of the White, followed several years later with another honor, an Irish peerage with the title of Baron Keith of Stonehaven-Marischal. After his victory at Aboukir a grateful England awarded him an English peerage, Baron Keith of Barheath, County of Dumbarton, and yet another promotion, to Admiral of the Blue. While in command of the channel fleet in 1812 he affected the capture of Napoleon Bonaparte, on his flight from France after the defeat at Waterloo. In 1814 Lord Keith was created a Viscount and retired to his estate of Tulliallan (purchased in 1798, mainly from prize money from his engagements), where he died in March, 1823, at the age of 78.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 19. Gow (Third Collection of Niel Gow's Reels), 1792; p. 23 (3rd ed.). Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 234.
Recorded sources:
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