Earl of Airlie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earldom of Airlie |
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| Creation date | 2 April 1639 |
| Monarch | King Charles I |
| Peerage | Peerage of Scotland |
| First holder | James Ogilvy, 7th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie |
| Present holder | David Ogilvy, 14th Earl of Airlie |
| Heir apparent | The Hon. David Huxley Ogilvy, Lord Ogilvy |
| Remainder to | the 1st Earl's Heirs male of the body lawfully begotten. |
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The Earl of Airlie is a special title in Scotland that was created on April 2, 1639. It was given to James Ogilvy, who was already the 7th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie. Along with this, he also received the title "Lord Ogilvy of Alith and Lintrathen". The title "Lord Ogilvy of Airlie" itself was first created much earlier, on April 28, 1491.
Sometimes, people who were supposed to inherit the title faced problems. For example, in 1715, James Ogilvy, the son of the 3rd Earl, joined a rebellion against the king. Because of this, he was "attainted," which meant he lost his right to inherit the title. Even though he was later pardoned, he couldn't become Earl after his father died. However, over time, the family worked to get these rights back. The British Parliament eventually passed a law that reversed these old punishments, allowing the family to continue holding the title. When we list the Earls, we usually count them as if these problems never happened.
The Earl of Airlie is also the leader of Clan Ogilvy, a historic Scottish family.
The person who is next in line to become Earl uses the title ‘Lord Ogilvy’.
The main homes of the family are Airlie Castle and Cortachy Castle. Both are located near Kirriemuir in Angus, Scotland.
Contents
Understanding the Earls of Airlie
This section explains more about the history of the Earls of Airlie and their family.
What is a Coat of Arms?
A coat of arms is a special design that represents a family or a title. The coat of arms for the Earl of Airlie shows a silver shield with a red lion walking across it. The lion has blue claws and tongue, and it wears a special crown.
A Look at the Ogilvy Family History
The Ogilvy family likely came from Gillebride, an early Earl of Angus. They received land from William the Lion, a Scottish king.
Sir Walter Ogilvy, who died in 1440, was an important person. He was the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. He built a castle at Airlie. His older son, Sir John Ogilvy, was the father of Sir James Ogilvy. Sir James was made a Lord of Parliament in 1491.
Key Figures in the Earldom
James Ogilvy, 5th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (who lived from about 1541 to 1606) was a very active person in Scottish politics. He was important during the reigns of Mary, Queen of Scots, and James VI.
His grandson, James Ogilvy (who lived from about 1593 to 1666), was the one who became the Earl of Airlie in 1639. He was very loyal to King Charles I. He joined a famous Scottish leader named Montrose in 1644. During this time, the Earl's castles at Airlie and Forther were destroyed. This event even inspired a famous song called The Bonnie House of Airlie.
His eldest son, James, the 2nd Earl, also fought for the king. He was captured several times but managed to escape. He was even sentenced to death once but got away! Later, he supported William of Orange.
Challenges to the Title
As mentioned earlier, some Earls faced challenges. James Ogilvy (who died in 1731) was involved in a rebellion and lost his right to the title. Even though he was pardoned later, he couldn't become Earl. His brother John then became the Earl.
John's son, David (1725–1803), also joined a rebellion. He was punished and had to escape to other countries like Norway and Sweden. He even served in the French army! In 1778, he was pardoned and could return to Scotland.
Later, another David Ogilvy (1785–1849) claimed the title. At first, the House of Lords said he couldn't inherit it because of the old punishments. But in 1826, a special law was passed to reverse these old decisions. This allowed David to become the 6th Earl of Airlie.
Recent Earls
The 10th Earl, David Graham Drummond Ogilvy (1826–1881), was a Scottish representative peer for over thirty years. This meant he represented Scotland in the House of Lords.
His son, David Stanley William Drummond Ogilvy, the 11th Earl (1856–1900), was a soldier. He was sadly killed in 1900 during the Second Boer War while leading his soldiers.
As of 2023, the current Earl is David John Ogilvy. He became Earl in 2023.
Other Notable Family Members
- Sir George Ogilvy of Barras (who died around 1679) was a hero who defended Dunnottar Castle against Cromwell's army. He helped keep the Honours of Scotland (Scotland's crown jewels and other important items) safe.
- Lady Blanche Ogilvy, who was the daughter of the 10th Earl of Airlie, was the mother of Clementine Churchill. Clementine was the wife of the famous British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
- Sir Angus Ogilvy, a son of the 12th Earl, married Princess Alexandra of Kent. Their son James is in line to inherit the British throne, though he is quite far down the list.
Lords Ogilvy of Airlie (1491)
This is a list of the people who held the title of Lord Ogilvy of Airlie before it became an Earldom.
- James Ogilvy, 1st Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (1430–1504)
- John Ogilvy, 2nd Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (d. 1506)
- James Ogilvy, 3rd Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (d. 1524)
- James Ogilvy, 4th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (d. 1549)
- James Ogilvy, 5th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (d. 1606)
- James Ogilvy, 6th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (d. 1617)
- James Ogilvy, 7th Lord Ogilvy of Airlie (1586–1665) (became Earl of Airlie in 1639)
Earls of Airlie (1639)
This is a list of the people who have held the title of Earl of Airlie since its creation.
- James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Airlie (1586–1665)
- James Ogilvy, 2nd Earl of Airlie (c. 1615–1703)
- David Ogilvy, 3rd Earl of Airlie (d. 1717)
- James Ogilvy, de jure 4th Earl of Airlie (d. 1731)
- John Ogilvy, 5th Earl of Airlie (1699–1761)
- David Ogilvy, de jure 6th Earl of Airlie (1725–1803)
- David Ogilvy, de jure 7th Earl of Airlie (1751–1812)
- Walter Ogilvy, de jure 8th Earl of Airlie (1733–1819)
- David Ogilvy, 9th Earl of Airlie (1785–1849)
- David Graham Drummond Ogilvy, 10th Earl of Airlie (1826–1881)
- David William Stanley Ogilvy, 11th Earl of Airlie (1856–1900)
- David Lyulph Gore Wolseley Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie (1893–1968)
- David George Patrick Coke Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie (1926–2023)
- David John Ogilvy, 14th Earl of Airlie (b. 1958)
The heir apparent (the person next in line to inherit the title) is the current Earl's son, David Huxley Ogilvy, Lord Ogilvy (b. 1991).
Images for kids
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The Coat of Arms of the Earldom of Airlie.
