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The name Elliot originates
from the village of Eliot in Forfarshire although the old English form of Elwold also
appears in Scotland. The Elliots were one of the notorious Border clans and were found in
the district of Upper Liddesdale. The principal family in the early days was the Elliots
of Redhaugh, but the branch that later was to represent the senior line was that "of
Stobs" The Elliots of Stobs originated in the 16th century from Gawain Elliot of the
Redhaugh family. His younger son, Gilbert Elliot was convicted of High Treason in 1685 for
his work towards religious liberty, only pardoned after the ascension of William of
Orange. He was created baronet in 1700 and conferred a Lord of Session as Lord Minto in
1705. His son and grandson, the 2nd and 3rd Baronets were likewise educated for the bar,
sat in parliament and held other high official positions. Jane, sister of the 3rd Baronet
was famed for her composition "The Flowers of the Forest" that told the story of
the men lost at Flodden. George, 4th Baronet was conferred 1st Earl of Minto, he also
followed his father before him into politics and in 1794 was made Viceroy of Napoleon's
island Corsica. In 1807 he was appointed Governor General of India, succeeded by his son
who became Viceroy of India in 1905 and who was the chief architect of the Morley-Minto
Reforms that despite being radical at the time were still insufficient to stem Indian
discontent.
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