Dalrymple was elected to represent Culross in 1698 in the Parliament of Scotland,[2] as a member of the Stair–Queensberry alliance. He was created baronet on 8 May 1701 and was also appointed joint solicitor-general for Scotland and auditor of treasury of Scotland in 1701. He was a Commissioner for the union with England in 1702, and again in 1706 when he was one of the Commissioners who negotiated the Act of Union 1707.
Dalrymple was returned as MP for Haddington at the 1715 British general election. He was Commissioner of visitation for Glasgow University in 1717 and 1718, and for St Andrews University in 1718. He was appointed auditor general of the Scottish Exchequer in 1720.[4]
Personal life
Sir David Dalrymple married first Elizabeth ? (1660-1685) around 1680 in Drummerchut, Ayrshire, Scotland. By his first wife he had sons Andrew and David (pos. died during childbirth). On 4 April 1691 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, he married his second wife, Janet, daughter of Sir James Rocheid of Inverleith, the widow of Alexander Murray of Melgund.[3] By his second wife he had two sons, James (1692-1751) & Hugh (1695-1741), and four daughters, Magdalin (1696-), Janet (1698-1766), Margaret (1705-1705) and Rachel ( -1801):[5]
Andrew Dalrymple (1684–1762), who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony; he married Dorothy Shepherd.[5]
Dalrymple died on 3 December 1721. He was succeeded in his baronetcy by his son, James, as his eldest son, Andrew, emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony around 1711, giving up his right to the family title.[6]
Dalrymple was an enthusiastic bibliophile and added a remarkable Library Wing to Newhailes to accommodate his large book collection. This extension to the building was completed in around 1722.[7]
