Douglas Stuart, 20th Earl of Moray facts for kids
Douglas John Moray Stuart, the 20th Earl of Moray (born 1928, died 2011), was an important Scottish nobleman. He was known as Lord Doune until 1974. When his father, Archibald Stuart, the 19th Earl of Moray, passed away in 1974, Douglas became the new Earl.
An Earl is a high-ranking title in the British peerage system, which is a system of hereditary titles. As an Earl, he was once a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the United Kingdom's Parliament. However, after changes were made in 1999, he no longer had a seat there.
In 1984, the Earl made a significant decision about Doune Castle. This historic castle had been owned by his family since 1570. He decided to place it under the care of the nation. Today, Historic Scotland looks after the castle, making sure it is preserved for everyone to enjoy.
He married Lady Malvina Dorothea Murray on January 27, 1964. They had two children:
- John Douglas Stuart, 21st Earl of Moray (born 1966)
- Lady Louisa Helena Stuart (born 1968)
Lady Malvina, the Dowager Countess, and her daughter Lady Louisa Howitt are supporters of the Royal Caledonian Ball.
A Passion for Cars: The Doune Motor Museum
Douglas Stuart, when he was Lord Doune, had a great love for cars. He started collecting them in 1953. By 1970, his collection had grown so much that he decided to open it to the public. This became known as the Doune Motor Museum.
The museum was also connected to a famous local event called the Doune Hill Climb. This was a challenging race where cars would try to climb one of the world's steepest hills in the fastest time.
His amazing collection included many unique and classic vehicles. Here are some of the notable cars that were part of the museum:
- A very rare 1905 Three Stroke Rolls-Royce, which is the only one left in the world.
- A 1913 Sunbeam 3 litre.
- A 1923 Citroen 5CV.
- A 1924 Hispano-Suiza 37 hp.
- A 1929 Bentley Speed Six 6.5 litre.
- A 1930 Bentley 8 litre.
- A 1932 Lanchester Coupe.
- A 1933 Invicta 4.5 litre.
- A 1934 Hispano-Suiza Ballot.
- A 1934 Aston Martin Le Mans.
- A 1934 Riley Nine Lincock.
- A 1938 Bugatti 57C.
- A 1938 BMW 328.
- A 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom Continental.
- A 1937 Jaguar SS 100.
- A 1937 Lagonda V12.
- A 1947 Nardi Danese.
- A 1951 Morgan Plus Four.
- A 1951 Jaguar XK120.
- A 1956 Daimler Conquest Roadster.
- A 1968 Iso Grifo.
- A 1965 Ford GT40.
- A 1966 Volvo P1800S.
- A 1973 Ferrari Dino.
The Doune Motor Museum welcomed visitors for many years before it finally closed its doors on November 30, 1998.
