Charles Greenhill Gardyne

A carte-de-visite portrait of Charles Greenhill Gardyne (1831-1923).

Born Charles Greenhill at Balmeedies near Forfar on 28 January 1831, his father, David Greenhill, later assumed the additional surname Gardyne when he succeeded to the estates of his cousin, James Carnegie Gardyne.

Charles was educated privately and later at Merchiston College in Edinburgh, before entering a military college in preparation for a career in the Army. ‘He first held a commission in the 91st Regiment of Foot, but, preferring a Scottish regiment [sic], he was soon afterwards transferred to the Gordon Highlanders. On the outbreak of the Crimean War he was stationed with his regiment in Ireland, but with no prospect of being on active service he succeeded in securing a commission in the Coldstream Guards, and journeyed to the Peninsula with the rank of captain. By this time, however, Sebastopol had fallen, and Captain Greenhill Gardyne was therefore debarred from taking part in the campaign’ (Dundee Evening Telegraph, 26 November 1923).

On 13 April 1858 at Muthill in Perthshire he married Amelia Anne Drummond, daughter of William Henry Drummond, 9th Viscount Strathallan. Their marriage produced six daughters and three sons.

‘When Lieut.-Colonel Greenhill Gardyne’s father died [in 1888] he gave up his commission in the army, holding at that time the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and came home to manage his estates. [He] took an active interest in county and parochial affairs, and was the oldest Deputy-Lieutenant of the county. He was a member of St John’s Episcopal Church, Forfar, and was a frequent worshipper in the Parish Church at Oathlaw’ (ibid.).

Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Greenhill Gardyne of Finavon Castle and Glenforsa Mill died, aged 92, at his Forfar residence, Beech Hill, on 25 November 1923, leaving an estate valued at £37,990.

Photographed by Collier and Park of Inverness.