Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie
Encyclopedia
Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie PC, KC, FRS
, FSA
(24 May 1743 – 2 May 1823) was a British
lawyer, politician and diarist. He was Chief Secretary for Ireland
between 1793 and 1794.
and half-brother of William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus
. His mother was Margaret, daughter and co-heir of James Gordon, of Fechel. He was educated at the Universities of Aberdeen
and Leyden. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
in 1771, was called to the Bar
in 1776, and became King's Counsel in 1793.
under William Pitt the Younger
. In 1794 he was admitted to both the Irish
and English Privy Council and returned to the Irish House of Commons
for St Canice
, a seat he held until 1796. In 1795 he was elected to the British House of Commons
for Fowey
. He later represented Midhurst
between 1796 and 1800, Plympton Erle
between 1801 and 1802 and Hastings
between 1802 and 1806.
In 1797 Douglas was made a Lord of the Treasury
by Pitt, and in 1800 was appointed Governor of the Cape of Good Hope
, though he did not take up the appointment. At the end of the year he was created Baron Glenbervie, of Kincardine, in the Irish peerage
. After serving as joint Paymaster of the Forces
between 1801 and 1803 and Vice-President of the Board of Trade
between 1801 and 1804, he was Surveyor General of Woods, Forests, Parks, and Chases
between 1803 and 1806 and 1807 and 1810. On the office of the Surveyor General of the Land Revenues of the Crown
being combined with the former in 1810, became the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests, the head of the new department. He held the office until 1814.
Lord Glenbervie was also Rector of King's College, Aberdeen
between 1805 and 1814.
, in 1789. Their only son Frederick Douglas sat as Member of Parliament
for Banbury
between 1812 and his early death in 1819. Lady Glenbervie died in February 1817, aged 56. Glenbervie survived her by six years and died in May 1823, aged 79. As he had no surviving male issue the barony became extinct on his death.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, FSA
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(24 May 1743 – 2 May 1823) was a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
lawyer, politician and diarist. He was Chief Secretary for Ireland
Chief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
between 1793 and 1794.
Background, education and legal career
Douglas was the son of John Douglas, descended from James Douglas, minister of Glenbervie, son of Sir William Douglas, 9th Earl of AngusWilliam Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus
William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman and zealous supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.He was the eldest son of Sir Archibald Douglas of Glenbervie, Knt., by his spouse Agnes, daughter of William Keith, 3rd Earl Marischal, and upon the death of Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of...
and half-brother of William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus
William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus
William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman and zealous supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.He was the eldest son of Sir Archibald Douglas of Glenbervie, Knt., by his spouse Agnes, daughter of William Keith, 3rd Earl Marischal, and upon the death of Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of...
. His mother was Margaret, daughter and co-heir of James Gordon, of Fechel. He was educated at the Universities of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
and Leyden. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1771, was called to the Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in 1776, and became King's Counsel in 1793.
Political career
The same year he was appointed a King's Counsel Douglas gave up his legal career on his appointment as Chief Secretary for IrelandChief Secretary for Ireland
The Chief Secretary for Ireland was a key political office in the British administration in Ireland. Nominally subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant, from the late 18th century until the end of British rule he was effectively the government minister with responsibility for governing Ireland; usually...
under William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
. In 1794 he was admitted to both the Irish
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
and English Privy Council and returned to the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
for St Canice
St Canice (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
St Canice, also called Irishtown, was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-1692–1801:...
, a seat he held until 1796. In 1795 he was elected to the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for Fowey
Fowey (UK Parliament constituency)
Fowey was a rotten borough in Cornwall which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in the English and later British Parliament from 1571 to 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
. He later represented Midhurst
Midhurst (UK Parliament constituency)
Midhurst was a parliamentary borough in Sussex, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1311 until 1832, and then one member from 1832 until 1885, when the constituency was abolished...
between 1796 and 1800, Plympton Erle
Plympton Erle (UK Parliament constituency)
Plympton Erle, also spelt Plympton Earle, was a parliamentary borough in Devon. It elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1832, when the borough was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-1295-1640:-1640-1832:...
between 1801 and 1802 and Hastings
Hastings (UK Parliament constituency)
Hastings was a parliamentary constituency in Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until the 1885 general election, when its representation was reduced to one member....
between 1802 and 1806.
In 1797 Douglas was made a Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
by Pitt, and in 1800 was appointed Governor of the Cape of Good Hope
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
, though he did not take up the appointment. At the end of the year he was created Baron Glenbervie, of Kincardine, in the Irish peerage
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
. After serving as joint Paymaster of the Forces
Paymaster of the Forces
The Paymaster of the Forces was a position in the British government. The office, which was established 1661 after the Restoration, was responsible for part of the financing of the British Army. The first to hold the office was Sir Stephen Fox. Before his time it had been the custom to appoint...
between 1801 and 1803 and Vice-President of the Board of Trade
Vice-President of the Board of Trade
The office of Vice-President of the Board of Trade was a junior ministerial position in the government of the United Kingdom. The office was created in 1786 and abolished in 1867. From 1848 onwards the office was held concurrently with that of Paymaster-General...
between 1801 and 1804, he was Surveyor General of Woods, Forests, Parks, and Chases
Surveyor General of Woods, Forests, Parks, and Chases
The post of Surveyor General of Woods, Forests, Parks and Chases was an office under the English Crown, charged with the management of Crown lands...
between 1803 and 1806 and 1807 and 1810. On the office of the Surveyor General of the Land Revenues of the Crown
Surveyor General of the Land Revenues of the Crown
The post of Surveyor General of the Land Revenues of the Crown was an office under the English Crown, charged with the management of Crown lands...
being combined with the former in 1810, became the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests, the head of the new department. He held the office until 1814.
Lord Glenbervie was also Rector of King's College, Aberdeen
Rector of the University of Aberdeen
The Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen is the students' representative and chairman in the University Court of the University of Aberdeen. The position is rarely known by its full title and most often referred to simply as "Rector". The Rector is elected by students of the University and...
between 1805 and 1814.
Personal life
Lord Glenbervie married Lady Catherine Anne, daughter of Frederick North, 2nd Earl of GuilfordFrederick North, Lord North
Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, KG, PC , more often known by his courtesy title, Lord North, which he used from 1752 until 1790, was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782. He led Great Britain through most of the American War of Independence...
, in 1789. Their only son Frederick Douglas sat as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Banbury
Banbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Banbury is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is a strongly Conservative seat.The constituency was created January 26, 1554 through the efforts of Henry Stafford and Thomas Denton...
between 1812 and his early death in 1819. Lady Glenbervie died in February 1817, aged 56. Glenbervie survived her by six years and died in May 1823, aged 79. As he had no surviving male issue the barony became extinct on his death.