sentences:  At the 1708 general election he stood for Aberdeen Burghs but was unsuccessful.He became Provost of Montrose in 1710 and was elected MP for Aberdeen Burghs at the 1710 general election but was unseated on petition on 8 February 1711.In July 1712 he took part in a violent protest against the provincial synod, and publicly burnt the act of proclamation at the market cross in Montrose.