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The Earls of Morton

 

 

The Douglas of Morton family are descended from the second son of Archibald of Douglas (fl 1198-1239), second Lord of Douglas, through the Douglas families of Liddelsdale and Dalkeith. Sir James Douglas, 1st Lord Dalkeith, was granted a charter of the Barony of Morton (Morton is a small holding in East Calder, West Lothian.) in 1381/1382 and his grandson, James Douglas (d c 1493), was created Earl of Morton in 1457/1458.

James Douglas married Joanna, daughter of James I (1394-1437), some time before 1459 and was succeeded by his eldest son, John Douglas. On the latter's death, sometime before September 1515, his son James Douglas (d c 1550) became 3rd Earl of Morton.

James Douglas married Katherine Stewart, natural daughter of James IV (1473-1513), in 1507. In 1505 he was appointed procurator for the King and acted as bailie of the abbacy of Dunfermline in 1508 and 1509. James V (1512-1542) forced the Earl to resign his lands in 1540, nominally in favour of Robert Douglas of Lochleven, who was similarly compelled to resign the lands in favour of the King. A few months after the King's death in 1542 the Earl successfully brought an action before the Court of Session to nullify the resignation. He had no sons and was succeeded by his daughter's husband, James Douglas (c 1516-1581), second son of Sir George Douglas of Pittendreich.

James Douglas served as Regent of Scotland, Lord Chancellor and Lord High Admiral until he was accused of complicity in the murder of Henry, Lord Darnley (1545-1567) and was beheaded in 1581. His estates were forfeited but the attainder was reversed in 1585/1586 and his nephew Archibald Douglas (d 1588) Earl of Angus became 5th Earl of Morton. On the latter's death the earldom devolved on the heir of entail to Sir William Douglas (1539-1606), of Lochleven, eldest son and heir of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven.

Douglas was the custodian of Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587) during her imprisonment at Lochleven Castle. He died in 1606 and was succeeded by his grandson William Douglas (1582-1648). Douglas was Lord High Treasurer of Scotland from 1630-1636 and advanced considerable sums for the support of the Royalist cause partly through the disposal of his property at Dalkeith. In recognition of this he was granted the jurisdiction of Orkney and Shetland in 1643 and he was also created Lord Aberdour in 1638.

He was succeeded by his son Robert Douglas (d 1649) and grandson William Douglas (d 1681). The grant of Orkney and Shetland to the latter was disputed and they reverted to the Crown. Douglas, in 1672, resigned the Barony of Dalkeith. Sir James Douglas (d 1686) of Smithfield succeeded his nephew William and in 1669 James' son James Douglas (d 1715), 11th Earl of Morton, was granted Orkney and Shetland.

The succession passed through this side of the family to James Douglas (1703-1768) 14th Earl of Morton who in 1742 obtained an Act of Parliament investing the Earldom of Orkney and Lordship of Zetland in himself and his heirs. In 1766 he sold the islands to Sir Laurence Dundas of Kerse in Stirling, descendant of the Dundas family of Fingask and ancestor of the Earls of Zetland.

He was succeeded by his son Sholto Charles Douglas (1732-1774) and grandson George Douglas (1761-1827). The latter had no children and his cousin George Sholto Douglas (1789-1858) succeeded him. The succession then passed to George's eldest son Sholto John Douglas (1818-1884) and grandson Sholto George Douglas (1844-1935).

The latter was succeeded by his grandson Sholto Charles John Hay Douglas (1907-1976), 20th Earl of Morton and Lord Aberdour, who in turn was succeeded by his cousin John Charles Sholto Douglas (b 1927), the present, and 21st Earl of Morton.

See also:

Morton

 

 

 

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