Earl of Perth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earldom of Perth |
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Or, three bars wavy Gules
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| Creation date | 4 March 1605 |
| Monarch | King James VI |
| Peerage | Peerage of Scotland |
| First holder | James, 4th Lord Drummond |
| Present holder | James Drummond, 10th Earl of Perth |
| Heir presumptive | The Hon. Robert Drummond |
| Remainder to | heirs male whatsoever |
| Subsidiary titles | Viscount Strathallan Lord Drummond Lord Maderty Thane of Lennox Steward of Menteith and Strathearn Chief of the Name and Arms of Drummond |
| Seat(s) | Stobhall |
The Earl of Perth is a special title in Scotland. It's part of the Peerage of Scotland, which means it's a very old and important noble rank. This title was first given in 1605 to James Drummond, who was the 4th Lord Drummond.
The Drummond family has a long history in Scotland. They are the chiefs of Clan Drummond. Their family home, called Stobhall, has been theirs since the early 1300s.
Contents
Who are the Earls of Perth?
The Drummond Family Story
The Drummond family has been important in Scotland for a very long time. They were once thought to be related to a Hungarian prince. However, this story is now known to be a myth. The Drummonds became powerful by working with the Menteith family in the 1100s.
One early Drummond, John Drummond, became a "Lord of Parliament" in 1487. This meant he was a very important person in the Scottish government. His family continued to grow in influence.
How the Earldom Began
In 1605, King James VI of Scotland created the title of Earl of Perth. He gave it to James Drummond, who was the 4th Lord Drummond. This made him the first Earl of Perth.
The Earl of Perth also holds other titles. These include Viscount Strathallan, Lord Drummond of Cargill, Lord Drummond of Stobhall, Lord Maderty, and Lord Drummond of Cromlix. The title Viscount Strathallan is often used by the Earl's oldest son.
A Time of Trouble: The Jacobites
Supporting the Old King
A later Earl, James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth, faced big problems. He supported the Jacobites. These were people who believed that King James II (and later his son and grandson) should be the rightful king of Britain, even after he was removed from the throne.
Because of his support for the Jacobites, the 4th Earl lost his titles in 1716. This was called an "attainder." It meant his titles were taken away by the government.
The Jacobite Dukedom
The Jacobites, however, still recognized him. In 1701, the exiled Jacobite king gave him a new title: "Duke of Perth." This was a special title only recognized by Jacobite supporters, not by the official British government.
Even though the official titles were lost, the Drummond family continued to use the Jacobite Dukedom. They also still claimed the Earldom of Perth.
Getting the Titles Back
Over many years, the Drummond family worked to get their official titles back. In 1853, after a special Act of Parliament, the "attainder" was reversed. This meant that George Drummond, who was then the 6th Duke of Melfort (a Jacobite title), was officially recognized as the 5th Earl of Perth.
This was a big moment for the family, as their main title was officially restored.
Earls of Perth: A Look at the Holders
Here are some of the important people who have held the title of Earl of Perth:
Early Lords Drummond (before the Earldom)
- John Drummond, 1st Lord Drummond (1438–1519)
- David Drummond, 2nd Lord Drummond (around 1515–1571)
- Patrick Drummond, 3rd Lord Drummond (1550–1600)
- James Drummond, 4th Lord Drummond (died 1611); he became the first Earl of Perth in 1605.
The First Earls of Perth (1605)
- James Drummond, 1st Earl of Perth (died 1611)
- John Drummond, 2nd Earl of Perth (died 1662), the 1st Earl's brother.
- James Drummond, 3rd Earl of Perth (around 1615–1675), the 2nd Earl's son.
- James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth (around 1649–1716); his titles were taken away in 1716 because he supported the Jacobites.
Earls of Perth (Restored in 1853)
- George Drummond, 5th Earl of Perth (1807–1902); his title was officially restored in 1853.
- William Huntly Drummond, 6th Earl of Perth (1871–1937); he was a distant cousin of the 5th Earl.
- James Eric Drummond, 7th Earl of Perth (1876–1951), the 6th Earl's half-brother.
- John David Drummond, 8th Earl of Perth (1907–2002), the 7th Earl's son.
- John Eric Drummond, 9th Earl of Perth (1935–2023), the 8th Earl's son. He grew up at Stobhall, the family home.
The Current Earl of Perth
The current Earl of Perth is James David Drummond. He was born in 1965 and is the 10th Earl of Perth. He is the elder son of the 9th Earl. He went to Eton College, the University of St Andrews, and the London School of Economics.
His younger brother, Robert Eric Drummond (born 1967), is the next in line to inherit the title.
Images for kids
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Coronet of a British Earl
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Coat of Arms of the Earl of Perth
