Letter of commission by Archibald Lord Douglas

Letter of commission by Archibald Lord Douglas, Lieutenant of the company in the Western Regiment of the local militia of the county of Forfar, 1808.

Lord Archibald James Edward Steuart Douglas of Douglas (1748-1827) was the eldest son of Lady Jane Steuart and her husband Colonel Douglas (after 1759 Sir John Steuart, 3rd Baronet of Grandtully). He was educated at Rugby and at Westminster and in 1761 inherited the estate of Douglas from his uncle Archibald, first Duke of Douglas (1694-1761), whose sister was Lady Jane Steuart. He assumed the surname Douglas at that stage. His succession was disputed by the Duke of Hamilton, Lord Douglas Hamilton and Sir Hew Dalrymple of North Berwick, in what became known as the 'Douglas Cause'. The Court of Session decided against him in 1767 but the decision was reversed in 1769 and finally settled in 1779 by the House of Lords. He became MP for Forfarshire, 1782-1790, and in 1790 was created a peer in the House of Lords with the title Lord Douglas of Douglas. He married first in 1771, Lady Lucy Graham (d 1780), and second, in 1783, Lady Frances Scott (d 1817). He died on 26 December 1827.

Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act and any other appropriate legislation.

This record was transferred from Dundee University Library in 1976.

Compiled by Caroline Brown, University of Dundee, and Jenny Cutts, Scottish Archive Network Project.

Descriptive list available at Dundee University Archives. Subject source lists and databases are also available.

Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges are made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply.