William Ogilvie

William Ogilvie (1740–1832) was a Scottish-born scholar and tutor.

Life Details of Ogilvie's early life are unclear. The Dictionary of Irish Biography suggests several possible backgrounds: "His enemies alleged that he was from a humble background, though possibly educated at Edinburgh University ... some even said he had come to Ireland as a drummer in a Scots regiment." Another suggestion was that he was from Banff, Scotland and attended King's College, Aberdeen. He himself claimed to be related to "a baronetical family of Ogilvies". ) on 29 April 1799. They had thirteen children.

Ogilvie purchased the Ardglass estate in County Down from his stepson Rear Admiral Lord Charles FitzGerald, and he and Lady Emily lived there for part of their marriage in Ardglass Castle. He was elected to the Irish House of Commons in 1781 for Gorey, and in 1783 for Ballyshannon, serving until 1790. In 1782 he submitted a seventeen-article proposal for the union of Ireland and England, which was unsuccessful.

He spent his latter years rebuilding the town which was once a major trading port. He successfully established a harbour here in 1813 and built public baths making the town one of the most fashionable watering places in the north of Ireland. A firm believer in self-sufficiency, Ardglass had gardens laid out for residents to grow their own produce (allotments).

He died in 1832 and his remains were interred in the Church of Ireland on Kildare Street in Ardglass. He died fondly remembered as "a man of character, a man of splendid determination, a man absolutely devoid of petty meanesses, and a man of exceptional tenderness".