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1796 The Cunningham-Grahams
John, 15th Earl of Glencairn, died childless in 1796. Finlaystone went to his cousin, the son of his aunt Margaret and her husband, Nicol Graham of Gartmore.

Robert Graham assumed the name of Cunningham on his succession. He died in 1797. His son had already been christened with the same middle name.

William Cunningham Cunningham-Graham was known as "Wicked William" for taking to forgery after fleeing his creditors. He blamed his addiction to gambling on youthful association with the Prince Regent's set. In about 1802 he pledged Finlaystone against cash for a card game. When he was unable to pay, Colonel Archibald Campbell claimed the use of the house for life.

Robert Bontine Cunningham-Graham had already been left nearby Ardoch by an uncle, so he was not entirely dependent on the ruined estate he inherited from his father.

 


William Bontine Cunningham-Graham, had, however, to put Finlaystone up for sale in 1860 after the death of his father Robert. In addition to the debts, he had suffered a serious injury whilst young, and become increasingly incapacitated after his marriage. His wife was the daughter of a British admiral and a Spanish noblewoman, and Latin influences played a big part in the life of her son - born in 1852 - who was the last Cunningham-Graham associated with Finlaystone.

"Don Roberto" Bontine Cunningham Graham tried to recover the family fortunes in Argentina, where he was kidnapped by rebel "gauchos", whose cause he promptly espoused. He returned to marry a French beauty whom he took to Texas and Mexico, before "settling down" as an inveterate rebel in British politics, being beaten and imprisoned by the English establishment for supporting Scots socialists and Irish nationalists. He later became a writer, and died in 1936.

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Finlaystone Country Estate, Langbank, Renfrewshire, PA14 6TJ, Scotland
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