James Duff, 4th Earl Fife
Encyclopedia
James Duff, 4th Earl of Fife KT, GCH
(6 October 1776 – 9 March 1857), was a Scot who became a Spanish general.
, who succeeded his brother as third Earl Fife
in 1809. He was educated at Edinburgh and was not intended for the army.
On 9 September 1799 he married Mary Caroline Manners (second daughter of daughter of John Manners
and Louisa Tollemache, 7th Countess of Dysart), who died on 20 December 1805 without children. Thereupon Duff sought distraction in 1808 by volunteering to join the Spaniards in their war against Napoleon. His assistance was gladly received, especially as he came full of enthusiasm and with a full purse, and he was made a major-general in the Spanish service.
He served with great distinction at the battle of Talavera, where he was severely wounded in trying to rally the Spanish runaways, and was only saved from becoming a prisoner by the gallantry of his lifelong friend, Major (afterwards Lieutenant-general Sir) S. F. Whittingham. In that year, 1809, he became Viscount Macduff on his father's accession to the Irish earldom of Fife, but he still continued to serve in Spain, and was present during the defence of Cadiz against Marshal Victor, and was again severely wounded in the attack on Fort Matagorda in 1810. On 17 April 1811 he succeeded his father as fourth Earl Fife
, and as lord-lieutenant of Banffshire, and returned to Britain, after being made for his services a knight of the order of St. Ferdinand. He was elected M.P. for Banffshire
in 1818, and made a lord in waiting in the following year.
He was created a peer of the United Kingdom as Lord Fife on 27 April 1827, in which year he was also made a knight of the Thistle. He soon afterwards retired altogether to Scotland, where he lived at Duff House
, Banffshire, much beloved by his tenantry and greatly interested in farming and cattle raising, and there he died, aged 80, on 9 March 1857.
He was succeeded by his nephew, James Duff
, the elder son of his only brother, General the Hon. Sir Alexander Duff
, G.C.H., who was a most distinguished officer, and commanded the 88th regiment, the Connaught Rangers, from 1798 to 1810, serving at its head in Baird's expedition from India to Egypt in 1801, and in the attack on Buenos Ayres
in 1806, and who had predeceased the 4th Earl in 1851.
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
(6 October 1776 – 9 March 1857), was a Scot who became a Spanish general.
Biography
James was the elder son of the Hon. Alexander DuffAlexander Duff
Alexander Duff, D.D. LLD. , was a Christian Protestant Presbyterian missionary of Scottish heritage who worked in India. He was the first overseas missionary of the Church of Scotland to India. On 13 July 1830, Duff founded the General Assembly's Institution in Calcutta, which is now known as the...
, who succeeded his brother as third Earl Fife
Earl Fife
The title Earl Fife was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1759 for the 1st Baron Braco, and though in the Irish Peerage it referred to Fife in Scotland. The 1st Earl had been created Baron Braco, of Kilbryde in the County of Cavan, in 1735, and was created Viscount Macduff at the same time as...
in 1809. He was educated at Edinburgh and was not intended for the army.
On 9 September 1799 he married Mary Caroline Manners (second daughter of daughter of John Manners
John Manners (MP)
John Manners was an English politician, and the eldest natural son of Lord William Manners.In 1754, he replaced his father as Member of Parliament for Newark, which he represented until 1774....
and Louisa Tollemache, 7th Countess of Dysart), who died on 20 December 1805 without children. Thereupon Duff sought distraction in 1808 by volunteering to join the Spaniards in their war against Napoleon. His assistance was gladly received, especially as he came full of enthusiasm and with a full purse, and he was made a major-general in the Spanish service.
He served with great distinction at the battle of Talavera, where he was severely wounded in trying to rally the Spanish runaways, and was only saved from becoming a prisoner by the gallantry of his lifelong friend, Major (afterwards Lieutenant-general Sir) S. F. Whittingham. In that year, 1809, he became Viscount Macduff on his father's accession to the Irish earldom of Fife, but he still continued to serve in Spain, and was present during the defence of Cadiz against Marshal Victor, and was again severely wounded in the attack on Fort Matagorda in 1810. On 17 April 1811 he succeeded his father as fourth Earl Fife
Earl Fife
The title Earl Fife was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1759 for the 1st Baron Braco, and though in the Irish Peerage it referred to Fife in Scotland. The 1st Earl had been created Baron Braco, of Kilbryde in the County of Cavan, in 1735, and was created Viscount Macduff at the same time as...
, and as lord-lieutenant of Banffshire, and returned to Britain, after being made for his services a knight of the order of St. Ferdinand. He was elected M.P. for Banffshire
Banffshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Banffshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800, and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1983...
in 1818, and made a lord in waiting in the following year.
He was created a peer of the United Kingdom as Lord Fife on 27 April 1827, in which year he was also made a knight of the Thistle. He soon afterwards retired altogether to Scotland, where he lived at Duff House
Duff House
Duff House is a Georgian house in Banff, Scotland.Within the Deveron Valley lies Duff House, designed by William Adam, built between 1735 and 1740, and widely thought to be one of Britain's finest Georgian houses. Duff House was built for William Duff of Braco, who became Earl Fife in 1759.The...
, Banffshire, much beloved by his tenantry and greatly interested in farming and cattle raising, and there he died, aged 80, on 9 March 1857.
He was succeeded by his nephew, James Duff
James Duff
James Duff is the name of:*Sir James Duff, 1st Baronet , of the Duff-Gordon Baronets*Sir James Duff , a British army officer, who fought in the Napoleonic wars and a Member of Parliament from 1784 to 1789...
, the elder son of his only brother, General the Hon. Sir Alexander Duff
Alexander Duff
Alexander Duff, D.D. LLD. , was a Christian Protestant Presbyterian missionary of Scottish heritage who worked in India. He was the first overseas missionary of the Church of Scotland to India. On 13 July 1830, Duff founded the General Assembly's Institution in Calcutta, which is now known as the...
, G.C.H., who was a most distinguished officer, and commanded the 88th regiment, the Connaught Rangers, from 1798 to 1810, serving at its head in Baird's expedition from India to Egypt in 1801, and in the attack on Buenos Ayres
Buenos Ayres
Buenos Ayres is a town in Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in southwestern Trinidad, north of Erin and southeast of Point Fortin. Buenos Ayres is the hometown of the calypsonian Cro Cro. The Erin Savannas, one of the last remaining natural savannas in Trinidad and Tobago is located just east...
in 1806, and who had predeceased the 4th Earl in 1851.