Dunbar Douglas, 6th Earl of Selkirk facts for kids
Dunbar James Douglas, the 6th Earl of Selkirk, was an important Scottish nobleman. He was born in London on April 22, 1809. He became an Earl when he was just 10 years old. He was known for his education and his work in Scottish politics. He also managed large family lands, especially in Canada.
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About Dunbar James Douglas
Dunbar James Douglas was the son of Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk. His mother was Joan Wedderburn-Colville. He was born in London on April 22, 1809. From birth until 1820, he was known as The Lord Daer.
His Education and Achievements
He went to Eton College in England. Later, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford University. He started there in 1827. In 1830, he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. He did very well in Mathematics. He then earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1834.
He was also chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (F.R.S.). This is a special honor for scientists. He received this honor on January 13, 1831.
His Political Roles
From 1830 until his death in 1885, he served as a Representative Peer for Scotland. This meant he represented Scotland in the House of Lords. He was a member of the Conservative party.
He also held the important job of Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland twice. First, from August to December 1852. Then again from 1858 to 1859. He was also the Lord-Lieutenant of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. He held this role from 1844 to 1885.
His Family Home and Lands
Dunbar James Douglas lived at Saint Mary's Isle. This was in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. It was the family home of the Earls of Selkirk. Saint Mary's Isle is a beautiful area. It is a peninsula that goes into Kirkcudbright Bay.
A long time ago, a priory (a type of monastery) dedicated to St. Mary stood there. Dunbar James Douglas owned a lot of land. He had over 20,000 acres across 39 farms in Kirkcudbrightshire. This land was worth a lot of money each year. He also had a fishery on the River Dee.
His Death
Dunbar James Douglas died on April 11, 1885. He was 75 years old. He passed away at Saint Mary's Isle. He was buried in Kirkcudbright, Scotland, near his home. He did not have any children. After his death, the title of Earl of Selkirk went to the 12th Duke of Hamilton.
Managing the Selkirk Estate
After his father, the 5th Earl, died, Dunbar James Douglas's family estate was managed by a group of trustees. These trustees were important people. They helped handle the family's properties. This included lands in Canada.
Key Trustees
One important trustee was Andrew Colvile. He was a sugar trader and a governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. He was also Dunbar's uncle by marriage. He helped manage the family's interests in Canada.
Another trustee was John Wedderburn Halkett. He was also a director of the Hudson's Bay Company. He was married to Dunbar's aunt. He worked to protect the family's reputation in North America.
Adam Maitland was another trustee. He was from Kirkcudbright. He had worked for the East India Company. Sir James Montgomery was also a trustee. He was related to the family by marriage. These trustees helped guide the young Earl in managing his inheritance.
Selling Canadian Lands
When Dunbar James Douglas became an adult in 1830, he started making decisions about his lands. His family owned large areas in Canada. These lands were part of the Red River Colony and Prince Edward Island.
The Red River Colony Sale (1834)
The Red River Colony was a settlement in what is now Manitoba, Canada. It was started by Dunbar's father. The trustees had tried to cut costs there. They also stopped bringing new settlers from Europe.
In 1834, Dunbar James Douglas decided to sell the Red River Colony lands. He sold them to the Hudson's Bay Company. He received £15,000 worth of company stock for it. This sale included about 116,000 square miles (300,000 square kilometers) of land.
The Prince Edward Island Sale (1860)
His family also owned a lot of land on Prince Edward Island (PEI). This land was gained through grants and purchases. At its largest in 1831, the Selkirk PEI Estate had about 142,966 acres.
By 1842, the estate was about 114,000 acres. Some land had been sold or leased. In 1860, Dunbar Douglas sold his remaining lands on PEI. He sold about 62,059 acres to the Island Colonial Government. He received £6,586 17s 8d Sterling for it. This was a very low price for the land.
His Marriage
Dunbar James Douglas married Cecily Louisa Grey-Egerton. She was born in 1836. Her parents were Sir Philip de Malpas Grey-Egerton and Anne Elizabeth Grey-Egerton. Her father was born in Cheshire, England. Her mother was also from Cheshire.
Cecily Louisa married Dunbar James Douglas on June 29, 1878. The wedding took place in Little Budworth, England. She was 42 years old, and he was 69. Their marriage lasted for six years.
After Dunbar James Douglas died in 1885, Cecily Louisa remained a widow. She lived for another 35 years. She passed away on January 10, 1920, in Balmaclellan, Scotland.
Their Burial Place
Cecily Louisa and Dunbar James are buried together. Their graves are in The Galt-way Kirk Cemetery. This cemetery is southeast of Kirkcudbright, Scotland. Their graves are close to other family members.
| Honorary titles
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|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Earl of Galloway |
Lord Lieutenant of Kirkcudbright 1845–1885 |
Succeeded by The Lord Herries of Terregles |
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
| Preceded by Dunbar Douglas |
 Earl of Selkirk 1820–1885 |
Succeeded by Charles Douglas-Hamilton |
