Charles Douglas, 5th Lord Mordington facts for kids
Charles Douglas, 5th Lord Mordington was an important person in Scottish history who lived in the 1700s. He was known for supporting the Jacobite cause. This was a movement that wanted to bring the old royal family, the Stuarts, back to the throne of Great Britain.
Charles was the son of George Douglas, who was the 4th Lord Mordington. His mother was Catherine Lauder. When he was young, Charles went to sea, which means he worked on ships. He didn't come back to Britain until after his father had passed away.
Contents
What Was the Jacobite Cause?
The Jacobite cause was a political movement in Great Britain and Ireland. Its main goal was to restore the Stuart kings to the throne. The Stuarts had been removed from power in 1688.
Many people who supported the Jacobites believed that the Stuarts were the rightful rulers. They wanted to see a Stuart king or queen rule the country again. This led to several rebellions and conflicts over many years.
The 1745 Jacobite Uprising
Charles Douglas took part in the 1745 Jacobite uprising. This was a major attempt by the Jacobites to regain control. It was led by Charles Edward Stuart, also known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie."
During this uprising, Charles Douglas was captured. This happened at a place called Carlisle. He was brought before officials in September 1746.
Charles Douglas's Noble Title
When Charles Douglas was questioned, he told the officials that he was a noble. He explained that he held the title of Lord Mordington. At first, the officials weren't sure about this.
However, Charles was able to show proof of his noble status. Because he was a Lord, his case was handled differently. He was held in Carlisle Castle for a short time, but he was soon set free.
Changes to Land Rights
After the Jacobite uprising, there were many changes in Scotland. One big change was the end of "heritable jurisdictions." These were special rights that noble families had over their lands and the people living on them.
Charles Douglas had some of these special rights over his family's lands in Mordington. When these rights were taken away, he asked for money as payment. He requested £300 for the loss of his special privileges.
However, his request for money was not approved. He also lost control of his family's estates, which means his properties were taken away.
The End of a Title
Charles Douglas never married. This means he did not have any children to inherit his noble title. When he passed away, the title of Lord Mordington became "dormant." This means it was no longer officially used.
His sister, Mary, did call herself 'Baroness Mordington' after his death. However, she also did not have any children. Because of this, the title of Lord Mordington eventually faded away.
