View source for William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas

{{short description|17th-century Scottish noble}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox noble
| name            =William Douglas
| title           =Marquess of Douglas
| image           =
| caption         =
| reign           =
| coronation      =
| other_titles    =[[Earl of Angus]]<br />[[Lord Abernethy]]<br />Lord Bonkyll & Preston<br />Lord Jedburgh Forest
| predecessor     =new creation
| successor       =[[James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas]]
| spouse          = {{plainlist|
* Margaret Hamilton
* Lady Mary Gordon
}}
| issue           = {{Collapsible list
|1 = [[Archibald Douglas, 1st Earl of Ormond]]
|2 = Lord William Douglas
|3 = [[Lord James Douglas]]
|4 = [[William Douglas, 1st Earl of Selkirk]]
|5 = [[George Douglas, 1st Earl of Dumbarton]]
|6 = Lord James Douglas*Lady Margaret Alexander
|7 = Jean Hamilton, Lady Bargany
|8 = Lady Grizel Carmichael
|9 = Lady Anna Douglas
|10 = Henrietta Johnstone, Countess of Annandale
|11 = Lady Catherine Ruthven
|12 = Isabel Douglas, Duchess of Queensberry
|13 = Jane Drummond, Countess of Perth
|14 = Lucy Maxwell, Countess of Nithsdale
|15 = Lady Mary Douglas
}}
| noble family         =[[Clan Douglas|Douglas]]
| father          =[[William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus]]
| mother          =Lady Elizabeth Oliphant
| birth_date   =1589
| birth_place  =
| death_date   =19 February 1660
| death_place  =[[Douglas Castle]]
| date of burial  =
| place of burial =St Bride's kirk, [[Douglas, South Lanarkshire]]
}}
'''William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas and 11th Earl of Angus''' (1589–1660) was a [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scottish]] nobleman.
==Life==
===Master of Angus===
William Douglas was the eldest son of [[William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus]] and his wife, Elizabeth Oliphant, eldest daughter of [[Laurence Oliphant, 4th Lord Oliphant]]. His younger brothers were [[James Douglas, 1st Lord Mordington]] and Sir Francis Douglas of Sandilands.
Shortly before Douglas was born, [[William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus|his grandfather]] inherited the [[Earl of Angus|Earldom of Angus]] and Lordship of Douglas from a distant cousin; in 1591, his father in turn succeeded to the titles as 10th Earl, and the boy adopted the [[courtesy title|style]] of "Master of Angus" or "Lord Douglas".
The 10th Earl was a notable convert from state-sanctioned [[Presbyterianism]] to [[Catholicism]], and the family were not trusted by the [[Church of Scotland|Kirk]] due to his religious position. The prestigious public duties he had inherited, holding the first seat and vote in the [[King's Council]] and [[Parliament of Scotland|parliament]], leading the vanguard of the Scots army, and bearing the [[Crown of Scotland]], also brought him into conflict with the [[Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox|Duke of Lennox]], who had been granted a conflicting [[Order of precedence|precedence]] and ceremonial role.{{sfn|Fraser|1885|loc=vol II, pp. 383–384}} The scandal of the [[Spanish Blanks]] in 1593–1595 made Angus a rebel, and although he eventually recovered his position, and succeeded in defending his inheritance, he chose to go into exile in [[Paris]] in 1608 to obtain [[freedom of conscience]].{{sfn|Fraser|1885|loc=vol II, pp. 385–395, 398–404}}
All this had an effect on Douglas' childhood; he was separated from his father during the Earl's periods of [[house arrest]], and in 1596 the Douglas inheritance was briefly conferred on him in his father's place. The next year, when his father was restored to favour, the Master of Angus sent away to live with his Protestant cousin and [[Godparent|godfather]], the [[William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton|Earl of Morton]], though he soon returned home after breaking his leg in an accident.{{sfn|Fraser|1885|loc=vol II, pp. 412–413}} In 1601, at the very young age of twelve, the Master of Angus was married to Margaret Hamilton, daughter of [[Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley]] – a match that was designed as a Catholic alliance, and also gained the protection of the bride's powerful kinsman, [[Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline|Lord Fyvie]].{{sfn|Fraser|1885|loc=vol II, p. 413}}
===Earl of Angus===
Douglas succeeded his father as [[Earl of Angus]] in 1611; his father had made arrangements to ensure that his inheritance was largely free of the debts that had previously burdened it.{{sfn|Fraser|1885|loc=vol II, p. 413}} However, he was immediately embroiled in legal dispute with his tenants the [[Clan Kerr|Kers of Ferniehirst]] over rights to hold courts in the [[Scottish feudal lordship|Bailiary]] of [[Jedforest]]. This dispute resulted in a severe outbreak of violence in the [[Scottish Borders|Borders]], and the case was presented to the [[Privy Council of Scotland|Privy Council]]. The Lords of Session found in favour of Angus, although his brother James was remanded at [[Blackness Castle]] for threatening one of the Kers. Angus maintained his right to hold courts, and the Kers had to post [[Pound Scots|£10,000]] Scots as security to keep the peace.{{sfn|Balfour Paul|1904|loc=vol I, pp. 202–203}}
Not of a healthy constitution and unhappy with the religious climate at home, Angus was given leave by [[James VI of Scotland]], to travel to Europe, which he did in 1616, returning by 1620; and again in 1623, he was given an 11-year leave of absence to travel to the continent, leaving his estates to  be run by his brother Lord Mordington, and his cousin [[William Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton]]. Whilst in France, he corresponded with Marc Antonio Scoto d'[[Agazzano]] and Italian nobleman from [[Piacenza]], who claimed ancient kinship with Angus (cf. The legend of [[Sholto Douglas]]).{{sfn|Maxwell|1902|loc=vol II, p. 188}}
Angus did not stay on the continent for the full 11 years, but returned to Britain following the death of King James in 1625. The new king, [[Charles I of Scotland|Charles I]], stopped charges of [[Papist]]ry levelled against the Earl and restored to him his father's honours in 1631.{{sfn|Maxwell|1902|loc=vol II, p. 188}} Douglas married again, following the death of his first wife, to Mary Gordon, daughter of [[George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly]]. During the King's visit to Scotland for his coronation in that realm in 1633, Angus was created '''Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus, Lord of Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest''' at [[Dalkeith]].{{sfn|Thomson|1882|p=735 § 2172 (14 June 1633)}} He bore the crown during the coronation.
===Marquess of Douglas===
Until 1638 Douglas spent the most part of his time at Douglas Castle, not much intervening in national affairs, apart from being appointed a King's commissioner to deal with an outbreak of violence along the [[Scottish Marches|Marches]].{{sfn|Balfour Paul|1904|loc=vol II p. 189}}
In 1644, Douglas signed the [[National Covenant]] at Douglas Kirk, but by 1645 he had switched sides to join [[James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose]], following the [[Battle of Kilsyth]]. Montrose made him his lieutenant for [[Clydesdale (district)|Clydesdale]], and Douglas raised his countryside to join with Montrose's army just before his great defeat at the [[Battle of Philiphaugh]]. Douglas was able to escape following the debacle, but was captured in April the following year, and imprisoned in [[Edinburgh Castle]]. For the first months of his captivity he was allowed to be accompanied by his Marchioness, but by July 1646, he was being held under close ward. He was released in 1647 following the payment of a large fine.{{sfn|Fraser|1885|loc=vol II, p. 442}}
In 1651, [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] offered Douglas the leadership of a regiment in the army he was raising to invade England, Douglas declined however. Following [[Cromwell's Act of Grace]], Douglas was further forced to pay of the huge fine of £1000 sterling for himself, and a further £1000 each for his two sons, [[Archibald Douglas, 1st Earl of Ormond|Archibald, Lord Douglas]] and [[William, 1st Earl of Selkirk]].It is possible that in light of this that Douglas' fine was reduced to £333.{{sfn|Maxwell|1902|loc=Vol II, p. 191}}
===Death===
Douglas died at Douglas Castle, on 19 February 1660 and was buried in front of the altar of St. Brides's Kirk, [[Douglas, South Lanarkshire]]. The Marquess of Douglas was succeeded by his grandson, [[James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas]].
{{blockquote| ... William, eleventh earl of Angus and first marquess of Douglas, like his father, was a Roman Catholic, and a faithful adherent of the king during the civil wars. He maintained to its fullest extent the old princely hospitality and grandeur of the family at Douglas castle, where he chiefly resided. The king constituted him his lieutenant on the borders, and created him [[Earl of Angus|Marquess of Douglas]], 17th June 1638. He joined the [[Marquess of Montrose]] after his victory at [[Kilsyth]] in August 1645, escaped from the rout at the [[battle of Philiphaugh]], 13th September of that year, and soon after made terms with the ruling powers. He was fined one thousand pounds sterling by Cromwell’s act of grace and pardon. He died 19th February 1660. He was twice married; first to the Hon. Margaret Hamilton, only daughter of [[Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley|Claud Lord Paisley]], sister of [[James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn|James, first earl of Abercorn]], and secondly to Lady Mary Gordon, third daughter of [[George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly]].{{sfn|Anderson|1863|loc="Douglas"}} }}
==Marriage and issue==
Douglas was twice married. He was married firstly in 1601, to Margaret Hamilton, daughter of [[Claude Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley]] who died in 1621. In 1632, he married secondly to Lady Mary Gordon, daughter to [[George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly]]:{{sfn|Balfour Paul|1904|loc=vol I, pp. 203–206}}
By Margaret Hamilton, Douglas had six children:
*[[Archibald Douglas, 1st Earl of Ormond|Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus]] (1609–1655)
*Lord William Douglas (d.1633)
*[[Lord James Douglas]] (1617–1645)
*Lady Grizel Douglas, married Sir William Carmichael of that Ilk
*Lady Jean Douglas, married [[John Hamilton, 1st Lord Bargany]]
*Lady Lucy Douglas, married Robert Maxwell, 4th [[Earl of Nithsdale]]
By Lady Mary Gordon, Douglas had ten children:
*[[William Douglas, 1st Earl of Selkirk]] (1634–1694)
*[[George Douglas, 1st Earl of Dumbarton]] (1635–1692)
*Lord James Douglas
*Lady Margaret Douglas, married William, Lord Alexander, eldest son of [[William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling]]
*Lady Anna Douglas, died unmarried
*Lady Henrietta Douglas, married James Johnstone, 1st Earl of Annandale
*Lady Catherine Douglas, married Sir William Ruthven of Dunglas. Their daughter, Barbara, married [[Sir Hugh Paterson, 1st Baronet]].
*Lady Isabel Douglas (1642–1691), married [[William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry]]
*Lady Jane Douglas, married [[James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth]]
*Lady Mary Douglas, died unmarried
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*{{cite book |last=Anderson |first=William  |year=1863 |chapter-url=https://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/douglas.htm |chapter=Douglas |title=The Scottish Nation or the Surnames, Families, Literature, Honours and Biographical History of The People of Scotland}}
*{{cite book |last=Balfour Paul |first=Sir James  |author-link=James Balfour Paul |title=The Scots Peerage |edition=IX vols. |location=Edinburgh |year=1904 |url=https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01pauluoft}}
*{{cite book|editor-last=Cokayne |editor-first=G.E. |display-editors=etal |year=2000  |title=The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant|edition=new |location=Gloucester, U.K. |publisher=Alan Sutton Publishing}} (volumes I and IV)
*{{cite book |last=Fraser |first=Sir William |author-link=William Fraser (historian) |year=1885 |title=The Douglas Book |edition=IV vols. |location=Edinburgh |url=https://archive.org/details/douglasbook04fras}}
*{{cite book |last=Maxwell |first=Sir Herbert |author-link=Herbert Maxwell |year=1902 |title=History of the House of Douglas |publisher=Freemantle |url=https://archive.org/details/ahistoryhousedo01maxwgoog |edition=II vols. |location=Edinburgh}}
*{{cite book|editor-first=Charles |editor-last=Mosley |year=1999  |title=Burke's Peerage and Baronetage|edition=106th |location=Crans, Switzerland |publisher=Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) |volume=1 |page=1282}}
*{{cite book |editor-last=Thomson |editor-first=John Maitland |year=1882 |title=Registrum magni sigilli regum Scotorum: The register of the Great seal of Scotland, A.D. 1306-1668 |location=Edinburgh |publisher=General register house |page=[https://archive.org/stream/registrummagnisi08scot#page/735/mode/1up 735]}}
{{s-start}}
{{S-reg|sct}}
{{s-new|creation}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Marquess of Douglas]]|years=1638 – 1660}}
{{S-aft|rows=2|after=[[James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas|James Douglas]]}}
{{S-bef|before=[[William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus|William Douglas]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Earl of Angus]]|years=1611 – 1660}}
{{s-end}}
{{Earls of Angus}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, William Douglas, 01st Marquess of}}
[[Category:1589 births]]
[[Category:1660 deaths]]
[[Category:Nobility from South Lanarkshire]]
[[Category:House of Douglas and Angus|William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1612]]
[[Category:Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1621]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1628–1633]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1644–1647]]
[[Category:Marquesses of Douglas|01]]