Archibald Douglas, 1st Duke of Douglas
Encyclopedia
Archibald Douglas, 1st Duke of Douglas (15 October 1694 – 21 July 1761) was a Scottish nobleman.
He was the second son of James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas
, by his second marriage. His elder brother, William, died in infancy in 1694, and Archibald was thereafter styled Earl of Angus.
Douglas succeeded his father in 1700, and on 10 April 1703, was created Duke of Douglas, Marquess of Angus and Abernethy, Viscount of Jedburgh Forest, and Lord Douglas of Bonkill, Prestoun, and Robertoun. The bearer of the Crown of Scotland
on state occasions, he conveyed it to Edinburgh Castle
after the closing of the last Parliament of Scotland
.
During the Jacobite rising
of 1715, Douglas took the Hanoverian side, and led the volunteer horse at the Battle of Sheriffmuir
. In maturity, Douglas grew eccentric, and perhaps insane, marrying Margaret of Mains
(a fair match by some accounts); he slew Captain John Kerr (the natural son of his uncle, Lord Mark Kerr) at Douglas Castle
, while the latter was guesting with him there, and was forced to flee for some time to Holland. His residence of Douglas Castle was plundered by Highlanders during the Rising of 1745.
He fell out with his sister, Lady Jane Douglas, when he discovered her secret marriage to John Stewart of Grantully, and treated her with great cruelty. In 1755, Douglas Castle burned, and he hired Robert Adam
to rebuild it, although the work was never finished, being halted by the Duke's death. The Duke married Margaret Douglas in 1758, who succeeded in reconciling him with Archibald, his nephew by Lady Jane (who had died in 1754). Ultimately, the Duke was persuaded to entail his estates upon Archibald, a decision which led to the celebrated Douglas Cause upon his death, when the Duke of Hamilton
(who inherited the Marquessate of Douglas) and his kin unsuccessfully contested Archibald's legitimacy.
He was the second son of James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas
James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas
James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas was the son of Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus and 1st Earl of Ormonde, and Lady Anne Stuart....
, by his second marriage. His elder brother, William, died in infancy in 1694, and Archibald was thereafter styled Earl of Angus.
Douglas succeeded his father in 1700, and on 10 April 1703, was created Duke of Douglas, Marquess of Angus and Abernethy, Viscount of Jedburgh Forest, and Lord Douglas of Bonkill, Prestoun, and Robertoun. The bearer of the Crown of Scotland
Crown of Scotland
The Crown of Scotland is the crown used at the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland. Remade in its current form for King James V of Scotland in 1540, the crown is part of the Honours of Scotland, the oldest set of Crown Jewels in the United Kingdom...
on state occasions, he conveyed it to Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
after the closing of the last Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
.
During the Jacobite rising
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
of 1715, Douglas took the Hanoverian side, and led the volunteer horse at the Battle of Sheriffmuir
Battle of Sheriffmuir
The Battle of Sheriffmuir was an engagement in 1715 at the height of the Jacobite rebellion in England and Scotland.-History:John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, standard-bearer for the Jacobite cause in Scotland, mustered Highland chiefs, and on 6 September declared James Francis Edward Stuart as King...
. In maturity, Douglas grew eccentric, and perhaps insane, marrying Margaret of Mains
Douglas of Mains
The Douglases of Mains are a branch of the Clan Douglas, related to the Lords of Douglas through Archibald I, Lord of Douglas. The first Laird obtained land through marriage into the Galbraith family, which had been granted land in New Kilpatrick by Maldowen, Earl of Lennox...
(a fair match by some accounts); he slew Captain John Kerr (the natural son of his uncle, Lord Mark Kerr) at Douglas Castle
Douglas Castle
Douglas Castle was a stronghold of the Douglas family from medieval times to the 20th century. The first castle, erected in the 13th century, was destroyed and replaced several times until the 18th century when a large mansion house was built in its place. This too was demolished in 1938, and today...
, while the latter was guesting with him there, and was forced to flee for some time to Holland. His residence of Douglas Castle was plundered by Highlanders during the Rising of 1745.
He fell out with his sister, Lady Jane Douglas, when he discovered her secret marriage to John Stewart of Grantully, and treated her with great cruelty. In 1755, Douglas Castle burned, and he hired Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
to rebuild it, although the work was never finished, being halted by the Duke's death. The Duke married Margaret Douglas in 1758, who succeeded in reconciling him with Archibald, his nephew by Lady Jane (who had died in 1754). Ultimately, the Duke was persuaded to entail his estates upon Archibald, a decision which led to the celebrated Douglas Cause upon his death, when the Duke of Hamilton
James Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton
James George Douglas-Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton and 4th Duke of Brandon was a short-lived Scottish peer.Hamilton was born at Holyrood Palace, the son of the 6th Duke of Hamilton and his wife, Elizabeth...
(who inherited the Marquessate of Douglas) and his kin unsuccessfully contested Archibald's legitimacy.