William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus
Encyclopedia
William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus (1552 – 3 March 1611) was the son of William, the 9th Earl
(1533–1591). He was a direct descendant of King James I
through his paternal grandmother, Lady Agnes Keith, a daughter of William Keith, 3rd Earl Marischal.
He studied at St. Andrews University and joined the household of the Earl of Morton
. Subsequently, while visiting the French court, he became a Roman Catholic, and was in consequence, upon his return, disinherited and placed under restraint.
Nevertheless he succeeded to his father's titles and estates in 1591, and though in 1592 he was disgraced for his complicity in Lord Bothwell's plot, he was soon liberated and performed useful services as the King's Lieutenant in the north of Scotland. In July 1592, however, he was asking for help from Queen Elizabeth
in a plot with Erroll
and other lords against Sir John Maitland
, the Chancellor, and protesting his absolute rejection of Spanish offers, but in October he signed the Spanish Blanks
, and upon the discovery of this treason was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle on his return in January 1593.
He succeeded on the 13th in escaping by the help of his Countess, joining the Earls of Huntly and Erroll in the north. They were offered an Act of "oblivion" or "abolition" provided they renounced their religion or quit Scotland
. Declining these conditions they were declared traitors and "forfeited."
They remained in rebellion, and in July 1594 an attack made by them on Aberdeen roused James's anger. Huntly and Erroll
were subdued by James himself in the north, and Angus failed in an attempt upon Edinburgh in concert with the Earl of Bothwell.
Subsequently in 1597 they all renounced their religion, declared themselves Presbyterians, and were restored to their estates and honours. Angus was again included in the Privy Council
, and in June 1598 was appointed the King's Lieutenant in southern Scotland, in which capacity he showed great zeal and conducted the "Raid of Dumfries
," as the campaign against the Johnstones was called.
Not long afterwards, Angus, offended at the advancement of Huntly to a Marquessate, recanted, resisted all the arguments of the ministers to bring him to a "better mind," and was again excommunicated in 1608.
In 1609 he withdrew into exile, and died in Paris, France on 3 March 1611. He is buried at the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
.
He married Elizabeth Oliphant, a daughter of Lawrence, 4th Lord Oliphant
, in spring 1585, and they had three sons and two daughters. His second son, James, was created Lord Mordington
in 1641. His daughter Mary was married to Alexander Livingston, 2nd Earl of Linlithgow
.
From The Scottish Nation:
He was the author of the Chronicle of the House of Douglas.
He was succeeded by his son William, as 11th earl of Angus, afterwards 1st marquess of Douglas
(1580–1660). The title Earl of Angus is now held by the Dukes of Hamilton
, and is used as a courtesy title for the eldest son of the heir apparent to the current dukedom.
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...
(1533–1591). He was a direct descendant of King James I
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
through his paternal grandmother, Lady Agnes Keith, a daughter of William Keith, 3rd Earl Marischal.
He studied at St. Andrews University and joined the household of the Earl of Morton
Earl of Morton
The title Earl of Morton was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1458 for James Douglas of Dalkeith. Along with it, the title Lord Aberdour was granted. This latter title is the courtesy title for the eldest son and heir to the Earl of Morton....
. Subsequently, while visiting the French court, he became a Roman Catholic, and was in consequence, upon his return, disinherited and placed under restraint.
Nevertheless he succeeded to his father's titles and estates in 1591, and though in 1592 he was disgraced for his complicity in Lord Bothwell's plot, he was soon liberated and performed useful services as the King's Lieutenant in the north of Scotland. In July 1592, however, he was asking for help from Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
in a plot with Erroll
Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll
Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll , Scottish nobleman, was the son of Andrew, 8th earl, and of Lady Jean Hay, daughter of William, 6th earl...
and other lords against Sir John Maitland
John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane
John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, , Knight , was Lord Chancellor of Scotland.He was the second son of Sir Richard Maitland of Thirlestane, Berwickshire, and Lethington, Haddingtonshire, who settled the lands of Thirlestane upon him, and he was sent abroad for his education.Upon John...
, the Chancellor, and protesting his absolute rejection of Spanish offers, but in October he signed the Spanish Blanks
Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll
Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll , Scottish nobleman, was the son of Andrew, 8th earl, and of Lady Jean Hay, daughter of William, 6th earl...
, and upon the discovery of this treason was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle on his return in January 1593.
He succeeded on the 13th in escaping by the help of his Countess, joining the Earls of Huntly and Erroll in the north. They were offered an Act of "oblivion" or "abolition" provided they renounced their religion or quit Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Declining these conditions they were declared traitors and "forfeited."
They remained in rebellion, and in July 1594 an attack made by them on Aberdeen roused James's anger. Huntly and Erroll
Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll
Francis Hay, 9th Earl of Erroll , Scottish nobleman, was the son of Andrew, 8th earl, and of Lady Jean Hay, daughter of William, 6th earl...
were subdued by James himself in the north, and Angus failed in an attempt upon Edinburgh in concert with the Earl of Bothwell.
Subsequently in 1597 they all renounced their religion, declared themselves Presbyterians, and were restored to their estates and honours. Angus was again included in the Privy Council
Privy Council of Scotland
The Privy Council of Scotland was a body that advised the King.In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of material on the political, administrative, economic and social affairs of Scotland...
, and in June 1598 was appointed the King's Lieutenant in southern Scotland, in which capacity he showed great zeal and conducted the "Raid of Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
," as the campaign against the Johnstones was called.
Not long afterwards, Angus, offended at the advancement of Huntly to a Marquessate, recanted, resisted all the arguments of the ministers to bring him to a "better mind," and was again excommunicated in 1608.
In 1609 he withdrew into exile, and died in Paris, France on 3 March 1611. He is buried at the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
The Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, just beyond the outskirts of early medieval Paris, was the burial place of Merovingian kings of Neustria...
.
He married Elizabeth Oliphant, a daughter of Lawrence, 4th Lord Oliphant
Lord Oliphant
Lord Oliphant is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It has been created twice; both creations are extinct. It was first created in 1456 for Laurence Oliphant, but this creation became extinct on the death of the fifth lord in 1631...
, in spring 1585, and they had three sons and two daughters. His second son, James, was created Lord Mordington
James Douglas, 1st Lord Mordington
Sir James Douglas, 1st Lord Mordington was the second son of William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus by his spouse Elizabeth, daughter of Laurence Oliphant, 4th Lord Oliphant...
in 1641. His daughter Mary was married to Alexander Livingston, 2nd Earl of Linlithgow
Earl of Linlithgow
The title Earl of Linlithgow was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1600 for Alexander Livingston, 7th Lord Livingston, along with the subsidiary title Lord Livingston and Callendar. In 1695 the Earldom merged with the junior Earldom of Callendar, created in 1641 for a younger son of the 1st Earl...
.
From The Scottish Nation:
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas and 11th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman.-Master of Angus:William Douglas, Master of Angus was the eldest son of William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus and his Countess, Elizabeth Oliphant, eldest daughter of Laurence Oliphant, 4th Lord Oliphant... |
1589 | 19 February 1659 | Married 1st Lady Margaret Hamilton, 2nd, Lady Mary Gordon; had issue. |
| James Douglas, 1st Lord Mordington James Douglas, 1st Lord Mordington Sir James Douglas, 1st Lord Mordington was the second son of William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus by his spouse Elizabeth, daughter of Laurence Oliphant, 4th Lord Oliphant... |
1591 | 11 February 1656 | Married Lady Anne Oliphant and Lady Elizabeth Hay; had issue. |
| Lord Francis Douglas Lord Francis Douglas Lord Francis William Bouverie Douglas was a novice, British mountaineer. After sharing in the first ascent of the Matterhorn, he died in a fall on the way down from the summit.-Early life:... |
1593 | ||
| Lady Catherine Douglas | 1595 | Married Sir Andrew Kerr | |
| Lady Mary Douglas | 1597 | Married Alexander Livingstone, 2nd Earl of Linlithgow; had issue. | |
| Lady Elizabeth Douglas | 1599 | Married Sir John Campbell |
He was the author of the Chronicle of the House of Douglas.
He was succeeded by his son William, as 11th earl of Angus, afterwards 1st marquess of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas and 11th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman.-Master of Angus:William Douglas, Master of Angus was the eldest son of William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus and his Countess, Elizabeth Oliphant, eldest daughter of Laurence Oliphant, 4th Lord Oliphant...
(1580–1660). The title Earl of Angus is now held by the Dukes of Hamilton
Dukes of Hamilton
The Dukes of Hamilton were a junior ice hockey team that represented Hamilton, Ontario in the Ontario Hockey League for two seasons from 1989 to 1991.-History:...
, and is used as a courtesy title for the eldest son of the heir apparent to the current dukedom.