Sholto Charles Douglas, 15th Earl of Morton

Sholto Charles was born in 1732 and was the only son of James, 14th Earl of Morton to survive to adulthood. 

He married Katharine Hamilton, Daughter of John Hamilton, and sired two sons. His first son, George, would succeed his father after his death, September 25, 1774.

His 2nd son was Lt. Hon. Hamilton Douglas Halyburton (10 October 1763 – 31 December 1783).  Lt. Hamilton died of exposure while commanding the barge of HMS Assistance, which was caught in a snowstorm while going to look for deserters and wrecked on Sandy Hook

This image is taken from a family group portrait, when he would have been Lord Aberdour.

In 1775 hostilities commenced between Great Britain and America; Boston became a garrison, and was abandoned by many of its former inhabitants. The regular meetings of the grand lodges were terminated, and the brethren of St. John's Grand Lodge held no assembly until after the reestablishment of peace. There was at that time also a grand lodge held at Boston upon the ancient establishment, under the designation of "The Massachusetts Grand Lodge," which originated as follows: In 1755 a number of the order residing in Boston, who were Ancient Masons, in consequence of a petition to the Grand Lodge of Scotland, received a dispensation, dated November 30th, 1752, from Sholto Charles Douglas, Lord Aberdour, then Grand master, constituting them a regular lodge, under the title of "St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 82," to be held at Boston. This establishment was discouraged and opposed by the St. John's Grand Lodge, who thought their privileges were infringed upon by the Grand Lodge of Scotland; they therefore refused to have any intercourse with St. Andrew's Lodge for several years. The prosperous state of St. Andrew's Lodge soon led its members to make great exertions for the establishment of an ancient lodge in America, which was soon effected in Boston by the assistance of travelling lodges belonging to the British army who were stationed there.

Death: 1774

Father: James (14th Earl of Morton) Douglas b: 1709
Mother: Agatha Halyburton

See also The Earls of Morton