James (Douglas) Douglas Fourth Earl of Morton (1516 - 1581)

Born 1516 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 2 Jun 1581 at about age 65 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

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Biography

James (Douglas) Douglas Fourth Earl of Morton is Notable.

James (Douglas) Douglas Fourth Earl of Morton is a member of Clan Douglas.

James Douglas was a member of the aristocracy in British Isles.

James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton (c. 1516 – 2 June 1581, aged 65) was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of King James VI. He was in some ways the most successful of the four since he won the civil war that had been dragging on with the supporters of the exiled Mary, Queen of Scots. However, he came to an unfortunate end, executed by means of the Maiden, a primitive guillotine, which he himself was said to have introduced to Scotland.

James Douglas was the second son of Sir George Douglas of Pittendreich, Master of Angus, and Elizabeth Douglas, daughter David Douglas of Pittendreich.^[1] He wrote that he was over 61 years old in March 1578, so was probably born around 1516. ^[2]

On 16 May 1550, James was one of the hostages exchanged for John Lutrell, an English knight.^[3]

Before 1543 he married Elizabeth, daughter of James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton. In 1553 James Douglas succeeded to the title and estates of his father-in-law, including Dalkeith House in Midlothian, and Aberdour Castle in Fife. Elizabeth Douglas and her two elder sisters, who were married to Regent Arran and Lord Maxwell, suffered from mental ill-health.^[4] Their children either did not survive to adulthood or in the case of three daughters were declared legally incompetent in 1581. James also had five illegitimate children. They were:

1. Sir James Douglas of Spott- He became the Lay Prior of Pluscarden and was the founder of the Douglases of Spott.^[4]
2. Archibald Douglas of Pittendreich - He married Elizabeth Sutherland, who was the daughter of William Sutherland of Duffus.^[4]
3. George Douglas - He was still alive in 1611 and was a cripple.^[4]
4. William Douglas^[4]
5. Unknown Douglas

Research Notes

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV23-PR92 : 6 February 2023), James Douglas, ; Burial, Edinburgh, , City of Edinburgh, Scotland, Greyfriars Kirkyard; Find A Grave: Memorial #62222588

• The Peerage: James Douglas

Sources

1. ↑ Paul, James Balfour. "The Scots Peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom", Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1909, Vol. VI, Archive.org, p. 362
2. ↑ Johnston - Douglas: p. 41
3. ↑ Hannay, Robert Kerr, "Acts of the Lords of Council in Public Affairs, 1501-1554: Selections from the Acta dominorum concilii; introductory to the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland", Edinburgh: H. M. Stationery Office, 1932, Archive.org, p. 601
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Johnston, George Harvey, "The heraldry of the Douglases : with notes on all the males of the family, descriptions of the arms, plates and pedigrees", Edinburgh: W & A K Johnston, 1907, Archive.org, p. 42

See also:

• Wikipedia James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton

• Wikidata: Item Q1266779, en:Wikipedia

• Britannica: James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton

• Mary Queen of Scots Net: James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton