He was a captain in the 7th Dragoons by April 1690 and a major of foot in Lord Murray’s regiment from 1694 until 1698 when he went onto half-pay.
He had difficulty finding a seat at the 1708 general election and ended up standing unsuccessfully at Linlithgow Burghs.
He was appointed Governor of Fort William on 25 February 1715 and was returned again as MP for Renfrewshire at the 1715 general election.
[2] He married firstly by contract dated 25/30 January 1686, Annabella (née Maxwell) Cathcart, widow of John Cathcart of Carleton, Ayr, and daughter of Sir George Maxwell, of Nether Pollock, Renfrew.
He had four sons whom he outlived and three daughters, including:[4] Sir Robert died on 22 August 1735.