Earl of Dumfries facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Earldom of Dumfries
Creation date	12 June 1633
Monarch	Charles I
Peerage	Peerage of Scotland
First holder	William Crichton, 1st Earl of Dumfries
Present holder	John Crichton-Stuart, 8th Marquess of Bute, 13th Earl of Dumfries
Heir presumptive	Lady Caroline Crichton-Stuart
Remainder to	heirs male bearing the name and arms of Crichton and, through a novadamus (amendment) issued on 3 November 1690, with the former precedency by which, failing himself and his grandson and the heirs male of the body of the latter, the remainder was extended to Penelope, eldest daughter of his son Charles, Lord Crichton, and the heirs of her body, succeeding to the family estates, and similarly to his son's other daughters, whom failing, to his son's nearest heirs whatsoever.
Subsidiary titles	Lord Crichton of Sanquhar and Cumnock, Viscount of Ayr
Former seat(s)	Dumfries House, Sanquhar Castle
Currently the Earldom resides with the Marquesses of Bute. However, the title, can be inherited through the female line through an amendment to the original creation and the title could be separated from the Marquesses of Bute should heirs presumptive to the titles of Bute and Dumfries be male and female, respectively, inherit.

The Earl of Dumfries is an important noble title in Scotland. It was first created in 1633 for William Crichton. The title stayed in the Crichton family for many years. Later, it passed to the Dalrymple and McDouall families. Today, the title belongs to the Marquesses of Bute.

The Earl of Dumfries also holds other titles. These are Viscount of Ayr and Lord Sanquhar (created in 1622). There is also Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (from 1488) and Lord Crichton of Cumnock (from 1633). All these titles are part of the Peerage of Scotland.

History of the Dumfries Family

The Crichton family, who first held the Dumfries title, has a long history. It is believed they came to Scotland from Hungary. This happened with Queen Margaret around the year 1070.

The family's roots are in Crichton, Midlothian, Scotland. A family member, Thurstanus de Crichton, was present at a special event in 1128. This was when Holyrood Abbey was founded by King David I.

Sanquhar Castle and Early Earls

Sanquhar Castle was built by a Lord Crichton in the 1200s. It is located in the southwest of Scotland. In 1633, William Crichton, 1st Earl of Dumfries, became the first Earl. He was also made Viscount of Ayr in 1622.

The Crichton family sold Sanquhar Castle in the mid-1600s. Years later, in 1895, a descendant bought the castle back. This was John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute.

Later Earls and Dumfries House

William, the fifth Earl, had a military career. He fought in the army until 1747. He became Earl in 1742 after his mother passed away. He was also involved in the Battle of Dettingen.

William later became the Earl of Stair in 1760. He asked famous architects, the Adam brothers, to design a new house. This house was first called Leifnorris House. Later, its name was changed to Dumfries House, matching his title. The house was finished in 1759. William died in 1768 without children.

Dumfries House.

The title of Earl of Dumfries then went to his nephew, Patrick McDouall-Crichton, 6th Earl of Dumfries. Patrick's daughter, Lady Elisabeth Penelope, married John Stuart, Lord Mount Stuart. Their grandson, John Crichton-Stuart, became the 2nd Marquess of Bute and 7th Earl of Dumfries. This is how the two titles became connected.

Later Marquesses of Bute and Earls of Dumfries were involved in coal mining. They also built two grand homes: Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch.

The 10th Earl of Dumfries was an ornithologist, someone who studies birds. He bought the islands of St Kilda. He later gave them to the National Trust for Scotland in 1956.

The 11th Earl of Dumfries was a scholar. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He also supported the arts. He sold some family properties to pay taxes. He also held traditional roles like Lord Lieutenant of Bute and Argyll.

The 12th Earl, known as 'Johnny Dumfries', was a Formula 1 race car driver. He raced in the 1986 season. Dumfries House was a family home from 1760 to 1993. After the last family member living there passed away, Charles, Prince of Wales helped buy Dumfries House. This was to keep its history alive by opening it to the public.

Earls of Dumfries (since 1633)

• William Crichton, 1st Earl of Dumfries (1578–1643)
• William Crichton, 2nd Earl of Dumfries (1598–1691)
• William Crichton, 3rd Earl of Dumfries (died 1694)
• Penelope Crichton, 4th Countess of Dumfries (died 1742)
• William Dalrymple-Crichton, 5th Earl of Dumfries, 4th Earl of Stair (1699–1769)
• Patrick McDouall-Crichton, 6th Earl of Dumfries (1726–1803)
• John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute and 7th Earl of Dumfries (1793–1848)
• John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute and 8th Earl of Dumfries (1847–1900)
• John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute and 9th Earl of Dumfries (1881–1947)
• John Crichton-Stuart, 5th Marquess of Bute and 10th Earl of Dumfries (1907–1956)
• John Crichton-Stuart, 6th Marquess of Bute and 11th Earl of Dumfries (1933–1993)
• John Colum Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute and 12th Earl of Dumfries (1958-2021)
• John Bryson Crichton-Stuart, 8th Marquess of Bute and 13th Earl of Dumfries (born 1989)

The heir presumptive to the Marquessate of Bute is Lord Anthony Crichton-Stuart (born 1961). He is the second son of the 6th Marquess and uncle of the current 8th Marquess.

The heir presumptive to the Earldom of Dumfries is Lady Caroline Crichton-Stuart (born 1984). She is the eldest daughter of the 12th Earl and older sister of the current Earl.

Family Tree

See also

• Marquess of Bute
• Earl of Stair