Douglas coat of arms      

 

James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry

James Douglas, 2nd Duke of QueensberryJames, second duke of Queensberry, entered early into the measures of the revolution, and was constituted by king William the third 1695 lord keeper of the privy seal of the kingdom of Scotland, and 1700 lord high commissioner to the Scottish parliament.

Educated at the University of Glasgow, he was appointed a Scottish Privy Counsellor in 1684, and was lieutenant-colonel of Dundee's regiment of horse. He joined William III in 1688 and was appointed colonel of the 6th Horse Guards Regiment. He was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King William III.

Upon the accession of queen Anne he exchanged 8 May 1702 the office of lord keeper of the privy seal for that of secretary of state for the kingdom of Scotland, and was twice her majesty's lord high commissioner to the Scottish parliament

In the year 1704 he resigned all his employments, and was again constituted 1705 lord keeper of the privy seal for the kingdom of Scotland. He was declared 6 May 1706 lord high commissioner to the parliament by which the union between the two kingdoms was ratified and enacted, for which services he was created 26 May 1708 baron of Rippon in the county of York, marquis of Beverley in that county, and duke of Dover in the county of Kent of the kingdom of Great Britain, and obtained a pension of three thousand pounds per annum.

He exchanged 3 February 1710 the office of lord keeper of the privy seal for that of secretary of state for the Kingdom of Scotland.

James died in 1711, but prior to his death the 2nd Duke arranged for the Marquissate and Earldom of Queensberry to pass to his eldest son, James, who was widely known to be insane. The greater responsibility of the Dukedom, because of James' diminished mental state, was passed to the Duke's 2nd son, Charles.