Archibald Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas facts for kids

Archibald James Edward Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas (born July 10, 1748 – died December 26, 1827) was an important Scottish politician. He was known for a famous court case about his family's inheritance. He later became a Member of Parliament and was given a special title, Baron Douglas.

Early Life and a Big Family Case

Archibald was born in Paris, France. His birth name was Archibald James Edward Stewart. He was one of twin sons born to Sir John Stewart and Lady Jane Douglas. Lady Jane was the sister of a very rich man, the Duke of Douglas. The Duke had no children. This meant his huge fortune and lands would normally go to the Duke of Hamilton after he died.

The Douglas Cause: A Fight for Inheritance

Because the Duke of Douglas had no children, it was very important to know who would inherit his wealth. Lady Jane was 50 years old when Archibald and his twin brother, Sholto, were born. This led to a big legal battle called the Douglas Cause.

In 1767, Archibald lost the first court case. His opponents, including the young Duke of Hamilton, claimed that Archibald was not Lady Jane's real son. They said he couldn't inherit the Douglas family's estates. Lawyers for the Hamilton family even found people who claimed to have sold babies to a mysterious couple in Paris around the time the twins were born.

However, in 1769, the highest court, the House of Lords, changed the decision. They ruled that Archibald was indeed Lady Jane's son. This meant he was the rightful heir to the Douglas estates. This victory allowed Archibald to inherit a large fortune. His family, including future British Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home, has benefited from this ruling ever since.

His Political Career

Archibald Douglas became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Forfarshire. He served in this role from 1782 to 1790. He also held the position of Lord Lieutenant of Forfarshire from 1794 until his death in 1827. A Lord Lieutenant is the King's personal representative in a county.

In Parliament, he was a loyal supporter of important politicians like Henry Dundas and William Pitt. Because of his loyalty and service, he was given a special title. In 1790, he was made Baron Douglas, a title of nobility.

Lord Douglas was also a landlord who worked to improve his lands. He continued rebuilding Douglas Castle, a project started by his uncle. However, he faced financial difficulties when a bank he was involved with, Douglas, Heron & Company, collapsed in 1772.

He also helped raise soldiers for the country's defense. In 1795, he formed the Angusshire Regiment of Fencible Infantry. These soldiers served in Ireland and Dumfries. He was also involved with the Angus Volunteers Company of Fencible Men. This volunteer group was on duty at the funeral of the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1796.

Family Life

Lord Douglas was married twice and had nine children. Most of his children lived to be old. His first marriage was in 1771 to Lady Lucy Graham. She was the daughter of the 2nd Duke of Montrose. They had three children before Lady Lucy passed away in 1780:

• Archibald Douglas, 2nd Baron Douglas (1773–1844)
• Charles Douglas, 3rd Baron Douglas (1775–1848)
• Jane Margaret Douglas (1779–1859)

In 1783, he married his second wife, Lady Frances Scott. She was the sister of the 3rd Duke of Buccleuch. With Lady Frances, he had six more children:

• Frances Elizabeth Douglas (died 1854)
• Mary Sidney Douglas
• Caroline Lucy Douglas (1784–1857)
• Sholto Scott Douglas (1785–1821)
• James Douglas, 4th Baron Douglas (1787–1857)
• George Douglas (1788–1838)

Archibald Douglas died on December 26, 1827, at Bothwell Castle. He was buried in the Douglas parish church. After his death, three of his sons, Archibald, Charles, and James, held the title of Baron Douglas in turn. When his youngest son, James, died, the title of Baron Douglas ended. His daughter, Jane Margaret Douglas, became the main heir to the family's estates.