Catalogue description Sir Peter Arthur Halkett Collection

Diaries and transcripts, Sketchbook, Newspapers

Catalogue prepared to International Standard of Archival Description (General), 2nd edition.

Halkett, Sir Peter Arthur (1834 - 1904) 8th Baronet

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Peter Arthur Halkett was born in England on 1 May 1834, to parents Sir John Halkett of Pitfirrane and Amelia Hood Conway. In 1847, Halkett’s father died and he succeeded to become 8th Baronet, Halkett of Pitfirrane.
Halkett attended Cheltenham College, leaving in 1851 to join the 81st Regiment (“Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) as Ensign. By 1853 he had exchanged into the 42nd Regiment to serve with The Black Watch during the Crimean War.
At the start of 1856, he is exchanged into the 3rd Light Dragoons, allowing him a period of home service. In May of the same year, Halkett married his cousin, Elizabeth Ann Hill. They went on to start a family, having one son and five daughters.
In 1855 Halkett is gazetted out of the 3rd Light Dragoons (or “Hussars”). He continued to be involved with local military units, becoming a Captain in the Fife Mounted Rifle Volunteers and later Major of the Fife Artillery Militia. In May 1873, Halkett was gazetted Colonel Commandant, serving in this role for 15 years until his resignation in 1888.
Halkett, aged 69, died on 8 Mar 1904 in Fife, Scotland.