Captain Archibald Speirs
(1840-1868)
Captain Archibald Alexander Speirs of the Scots Fusilier Guards was the only son of Alexander Speirs of Elderslie House, Renfrewshire, who died on 5 October 1844.
Born at Leamington Priors on 5 June 1840 and educated at Eton, 'Archie' Speirs joined the Scots Fusilier Guards by purchase on 2 February 1858. He rose from the rank of Ensign to that of Lieutenant on 21 November 1862, and sold out in July 1865. He was the Member of Parliament for Renfrewshire from 19 July 1865 until his death.
On 3 September 1867 he married the Honourable Anne Pleydell-Bouverie, daughter of the 4th Earl of Radnor.
Captain Speirs died suddenly of 'gastric fever' at Elderslie House, Renfrewshire, on 30 December 1868, soon after the birth of his son.
An extensive obituary appeared in the Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser (2 January 1869), which read in part: 'Probably no death could have taken place in this county which would have caused such a general and profound sensation of regret as that of Captain Speirs. Little more than seven years ago he came of age, when the spirit and talent which he displayed gained him a great amount of admiration and respect, and he afterwards so conducted himself as to attain the high esteem not only of his numerous tenantry and friends but of the inhabitants generally of the county to which he belonged. This, along with his being the representative of a family which had always supported the Liberal interest, resulted in his being requested to come forward as a candidate for the representation of the County at the general election in 1865 in opposition to Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, when he was elected by upwards of two hundred of a majority. During his three years in Parliament he maintained his position as a consistent Liberal, and his short Parliamentary career gave so much promise of future usefulness that at the recent election he was again returned without opposition. With fine personal appearance and frank and urbane manner he readily won the favour of all with whom he came into contact, while his more enduring qualities secured for him their highest esteem. His social qualities were likewise of a high order, and as a Free Mason he was elected some time since Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Glasgow as successor to the late Sir Archibald Alison. In the autumn of 1867 he married the Hon. Anne Pleydel Bouverie, eldest daughter of Lord Folkstone, and grand-daughter of the Earl of Radnor. The "home-coming," about fifteen months' since was the occasion of great rejoicings in this county, and scarcely any marriage connection could have been formed under more auspicious circumstances. And only a few days ago their sky was still quite unclouded, and with not even a threatening speck in the horizon. A short month ago, and had any person in Renfrewshire been required to name the man in the county about thirty years of age, who had the most likely chance for long and happy and honoured life he might with all propriety have named Captain Speirs. Providence had showered upon him many of its choicest gifts. But none can stay "the inevitable hour," and high as well as low can only submit and wonder. In last Parliament Captain Speirs was our youngest Scotch member, and his is the third death of the new House of Commons. Captain Speirs was descended from a line of distinguished Glasgow merchants. In 1844 he succeeded to the family estates, on the death of his father, Alexander Speirs, and when eighteen years of age he entered the army. In 1862 he was appointed to a captaincy in the Scots Fusilier Guards, and in 1867 [sic] he quitted the service, after being elected Member for the County. We have only further to add that if heartfelt sympathy with his wife and mother in their terrible bereavement can alleviate their sufferings it is theirs to a greater extent than is almost ever felt out of the narrow family circle.'