James Oswald

James Oswald was a member of the Parliament of Scotland, 1703-1707, representing Kirkcaldy and, later, the member for Dysart Burghs in the House of Commons of Great Britain. Early life He was born in 1650, second son of Thomas Oswald of Kirkcaldy in Fife and Isobel Anderson. His father was a merchant navy captain and he followed the same occupation becoming a wealthy captain. It was noted that in 1681 he was a captain trading to Holland and bringing back goods on his own account. By 1689 he was a burgess of Kirkcaldy and successfully petitioned the Privy Council to relieve the burden of taxation on Kirkcaldy, because of the decay of trade of the burgh. Contested Election to Parliament Under an Act of Parliament of 1469, burgh members of Parliament were chosen by the town councils, so for the election of 1702 the town council of Kirkcaldy met on 8 September. The member, called "burgh commissioner", since 1689 had been John Boswell, but Captain James Oswald stood against him. Since 1690 the Earl of Leven had been annually re-elected as provost. There followed a power struggle between the Earl of Leven and the Oswald family lasting almost a year.