Sir Alexander Dick, 3rd Baronet

Life

Dick was born Alexander Cunningham at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh, the 3rd son of Sir William Cunningham, 2nd Baronet of Lambrughton and Caprington, Ayrshire and his wife Janet Dick, the only daughter and heiress of Sir James Dick, 1st Baronet of Prestonfield, Edinburgh. He changed his surname to Dick on the death in 1746 of his elder brother William, when he inherited the baronetcy and Prestonfield. He was educated at the Edinburgh High School and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Leyden and the University of St Andrews.

He was also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and in 1783 was a founding fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

He is mentioned in James Boswell's The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson (1785).

Family He married twice, firstly in 1736 to Janet Dick, and secondly in 1762 to Mary Butler. He was succeeded by his eldest son William, the 4th Baronet.