George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus facts for kids

George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus (born 1380, died 1403) was an important Scottish noble. He was the first person to hold the title of Earl of Angus.

Early Life and Family

George Douglas was born in 1380 at Tantallon Castle in East Lothian, Scotland. His father was William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, a powerful Scottish noble. His mother was Margaret Stewart, 4th Countess of Angus, who was also a countess in her own right.

George's father had another son, James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas, with his wife. James became the 2nd Earl of Douglas and Mar after his father passed away in 1384.

Becoming the Earl of Angus

In 1389, George's mother, Margaret of Angus, decided to give her title to her son. However, George did not officially become the Earl of Angus until 1397. This happened when he was set to marry Princess Mary Stewart, who was the daughter of King Robert III of Scotland.

George's mother was very influential. She helped arrange his marriage to a royal princess. She also convinced King Robert III to confirm George as the Earl of Angus. The King also gave George control over the lands of Abernethy in Perthshire and Bonkill in Berwickshire. He also received special rights over the County of Forfar.

The Douglas Family Lines

In 1388, James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas, was killed in the Battle of Otterburn. He did not have any children. Because of this, the Earldom of Mar and most of the Douglas family's lands went to his sister, Isabel. The Earldom of Douglas went to a cousin named Archibald the Grim.

Archibald the Grim's family line became known as the famous Black Douglas line. George Douglas's family line became known as the Red Douglas line. This line lasted for a much longer time.

Public Life and Capture

George Douglas did not seem to be very involved in public life. His name only appears on a few minor official documents.

However, in 1402, he was sent on an important mission. The Duke of Albany, who was ruling Scotland at the time, ordered him to go. George was to join Murdoch, Earl of Fife, and the Earl of Moray. They were helping Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas invade Northumberland in England.

This invasion ended badly at the Battle of Homildon Hill. The Scottish army was defeated, and many important nobles, including George, were captured. Both George and the Earl of Moray sadly passed away while they were prisoners. They died from the Plague.

Children

George Douglas and his wife, Mary Stewart, had two children:

• William Douglas, 2nd Earl of Angus (1398–1437)
• Lady Elizabeth Douglas, who married Sir Alexander Forbes (later the 1st Lord Forbes). She later married Sir David Hay of Yester.

After George passed away, Mary Stewart married four more times. She had seven more children with three of her other husbands. Her children with her second husband, Sir James Kennedy the Younger, became the ancestors of the Marquesses of Ailsa. Her children with her fourth husband, William, 1st Lord Graham, became the ancestors of the Viscounts of Dundee and the Dukes of Montrose.

Sources

• Maxwell, Sir Herbert. A History of the House of Douglas. Freemantle, London 1902
• Godscroft, David Hume of. Ane Historie of the House and Race of Douglas and Angus. Edinburgh 1646
• Brown, Michael. The Black Douglases. Tuckwell press, East Linton, East Lothian 1998
• From the Bloody Heart, Oliver Thomson. Sutton, Stroud, Gloucs. 2003