He was the son of Allan Gilmour, owner of a large shipping company based in Renfrew, and Agnes Strang.
He later acquired estates at Greenside, Pratis and Kilmux (all in Fife).
[1] He commissioned in to The Fife Light Horse in 1874 as a Lieutenant taking command of the Regiment as Lt-Colonel from 1895 to 1901.
[2] In 1885 they jointly formed the Lundin and Montrave Curling Club, its curling pond being on their own estate at Montrave House, a few miles south of Cupar in Fife.
This was one of the first British sporting establishments to have both male and female members.