Archibald Douglas, 1st Duke of Douglas facts for kids

Archibald Douglas, the 1st Duke of Douglas (born October 15, 1694 – died July 21, 1761), was an important Scottish nobleman. He held many high titles and played a part in Scottish history during a time of big changes.

Early Life and Titles

Archibald was the second son of James Douglas, who was the 2nd Marquess of Douglas. His mother was Lady Mary Kerr. Sadly, his older brother, William, passed away when he was a baby in 1694. After this, Archibald became known as the Earl of Angus.

In 1700, when Archibald was just six years old, he inherited his father's titles. A few years later, on April 10, 1703, he received even more important titles. He was made the Duke of Douglas, the Marquess of Angus and Abernethy, the Viscount of Jedburgh Forest, and Lord Douglas of Bonkill, Prestoun, and Robertoun. These titles showed his high rank and power in Scotland.

Archibald also had a special role in Scottish ceremonies. He was the person who carried the Crown of Scotland during important events. He even took the Crown to Edinburgh Castle after the last Parliament of Scotland meeting ended. The Parliament was like the government's meeting place for Scotland.

Life and Challenges

During the Jacobite rising of 1715, a time when some people wanted to bring back the old royal family to the throne, Duke Douglas supported the Hanoverian side, which was the ruling family at the time. He even led a group of volunteer horsemen in a battle called the Battle of Sheriffmuir.

As he grew older, Duke Douglas became known for being a bit unusual. His home, Douglas Castle, faced a difficult time during another uprising in 1745. Highlanders, who were supporters of the Jacobite cause, took things from his castle.

In 1755, Douglas Castle was badly damaged by a fire. Duke Douglas then hired a famous architect named Robert Adam to rebuild it. However, the rebuilding work was not finished before the Duke passed away.

Family and Legacy

Duke Douglas had a disagreement with his sister, Lady Jane Douglas. This happened when he found out about her secret marriage to Sir John Stewart, 3rd Baronet.

In 1758, Duke Douglas married Margaret Douglas. She helped him to make peace with his nephew, Archibald. This Archibald was Lady Jane's son. Lady Jane herself had passed away in 1754.

Eventually, Duke Douglas decided that his estates and wealth should go to his nephew, Archibald, after his death. This decision led to a very famous legal case known as the Douglas Cause. After the Duke died, the Duke of Hamilton and his family tried to argue that Archibald was not truly Lady Jane's son. However, they did not win the case, and Archibald was confirmed as the rightful heir.