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- Educated Glasgow University 1745-47; succeeded uncle Charles Douglas in Breconwhat Estate, Dumfries 13 Dec. 1770; and fa. 13 Nov 1778. Lt. Scots Brigade in Holland 1747-58; cornet a Drag. 1759-64.
When there was no money left for William and his brothers' education, the family tutor, James Hogg, took his four pupils to Glasgow, supported them out of his own 'little patrimony' and sent the two eldest to university. This he continued when their father was in the Tower of London.
In June 1747, William obtained a commission in the regiment raised by Lord Drumlanrig and then, afterwards, served in the Scots Brigade; in about 1758, he received a commission in the 2nd Dragoons. At the end of the war, William apparently retired from the army and became a member of the Duke of Queensberry's household.He went into Parliament in 1768. The Duke of Queensberry who died shortly before William's father, had long treated William as his eventual heir to the Marquessate of Queensberry, failing male issue by his immediate successor, Lord March.
Sir William's uncle, Sir Alexander Dick, recorded in his Memoranda:'The Duke, shortly before his death, having a warm attachment to my nephew, Sir William, whom he sincerely loved from his proper behaviour to him while in Parliament, and considering that he had (children).... to provide for, he left him 16,000 pounds in money on their behalf....On the worthy Dukes's death...this new unkindly and ungenerous Duke refused to pay the money...My nephew seeks my approbation for suing the Duke in the court of session.'At the general election of 1780, the Duke refused to return him to Parliament. William's action before the court of session for 20,000 pounds (16,000 pounds plus interest) was successful; on 30 April, 1783, Queensberry's appeal was dismissed by the Lords. Sir William was so overjoyed by the news that he had an apoplectic fit while playing with his children, and died on 16 May 1783. (Original sources quoted in the House of Commons biographical entry: Memoranda by Sir. Alex Dick, Curiosities of a Scots Charter Chest ed. Forbes 223; Alex Carlyle. Autobiog; Sir Alex Dick's Memoranda, Scots Mag. 1747 p. 351; Scots Brigade in Holland (Sc. Hist. Soc.) ii 390-391-412,414;Jas. Charles Sholto Douglas to R. M. Keith 7 Dec. 1775. Add.35509 f. 274. Curiosities 270.)" Article from James Boswell site Biography William Douglas. (Ca. 1730-1784) (aka. 4th Bart of Kelhead) 4th Bart of Kelhead. Son of Sir John Douglas, 3rd of Kelhead (and son of Boswell's mother's half-sister Helen Erskine) and Christian Cunninghame (1710-1741). Married Grace Johnstone (d. 1836) in 1772. A Captain in 1762. His sons Charles and John later became 6th and 7th Marquesses of Queensberry, respectively.
He was also a sometime Member of Parliament.Life with James Boswell: Boswell possibly was in William Douglas' company on October 6, 1762, when he visited Douglas' family at Kelhead. Boswell mentions a Mr. Douglas, son to Sir John, an officer in the Greys, an amiable young fellow whom I hope to see in the circumstances which he deserves. However, Sir John did have two other surviving sons, at least one of whom was in the army. Also, I rather doubt if Boswell would refer to a 32 year old as a young fellow.JB also dined with Douglas and Captain Maxwell on 20/12-62.
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