Earl of Galloway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earldom of Galloway |
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Or, a fesse chequy azure and argent, surmounted of a bend engrailed gules, within a double tressure flory counterflory gules
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| Creation date | 19 September 1623 |
| Monarch | James VI and I |
| Peerage | Peerage of Scotland |
| First holder | Alexander Stewart, 1st Earl of Galloway |
| Present holder | Andrew Clyde Stewart, 14th Earl of Galloway |
| Heir apparent | Alexander Stewart, Lord Garlies |
| Remainder to | First earl's heirs male of the body |
| Subsidiary titles | Lord Garlies Baron Stewart |
| Seat(s) | Cumloden House |
| Former seat(s) | Galloway House |
| Motto | Virescit vulnere virtus ("Courage grows strong at a wound") |
The Earl of Galloway is a special noble title in Scotland. It was first created in 1623 for Alexander Stewart. This meant he became the first Earl of Galloway. The title was set up to pass down to his male descendants who carried the Stewart name and family crest.
Before becoming an Earl, Alexander Stewart was made Lord Garlies in 1607. This earlier title also passed to his male children who inherited the Garlies lands. This branch of the Stewart family was distantly related to the House of Stuart, who were the Kings of Scotland.
The second Earl, James Stewart, was the eldest surviving son of the first Earl. He also received another special title, a Baronetcy, in 1627. This title was part of the Baronetage of Nova Scotia, which was a way to raise money for settlements in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Over the years, many Earls of Galloway played important roles. The fifth Earl was involved in politics. The sixth Earl was a "Lord of Police," which was an old title for someone in charge of public order. He also inherited another Baronetcy, of Burray.
The seventh Earl was a Member of Parliament (MP), meaning he was part of the government. He also served as Lord-Lieutenant of Wigtownshire, a royal representative in the area. For many years, he was a Representative Peer in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament. This meant he represented Scottish nobles there. In 1796, he was given another title, Baron Stewart of Garlies, which automatically gave him a permanent seat in the House of Lords.
His son, the eighth Earl, was an admiral in the Royal Navy. He was also an MP and a Lord-Lieutenant. The ninth Earl also served as an MP and Lord-Lieutenant. The tenth Earl was an MP too.
The eleventh Earl was a soldier. He fought in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The twelfth Earl served as a Lord-Lieutenant. The thirteenth Earl, Randolph Stewart, succeeded in 1978. He passed away in 2020 without children.
As of 2020, the current holder of the titles is Andrew Clyde Stewart, the fourteenth Earl. He is a distant cousin of the thirteenth Earl.
Contents
Other Notable Family Members
Many other members of the Stewart family have also achieved important things:
- Hon. John Stewart, the third son of the third Earl, was a general in the army and an MP.
- Hon. Keith Stewart, the third son of the sixth Earl, was an Admiral and an MP. His grandson, James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie, became the Governor of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
- Hon. Montgomery Granville John Stewart, the sixth son of the seventh Earl, was an MP.
- Hon. James Henry Keith Stewart, the eighth son of the seventh Earl, was also an MP.
- Hon. Keith Stewart, a younger son of the eighth Earl, was an admiral in the Royal Navy.
Stewart Baronetcy of Burray
The Stewart Baronetcy, of Burray, was created in 1687 for Archibald Stewart. In 1704, this title was inherited by the sixth Earl of Galloway, connecting the two family lines.
Family Heritage
The Earls of Galloway are now seen as the main branch of Clan Stewart. This means they are considered the most senior family line within the larger Stewart clan.
The family's current home is Cumloden House, located near Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway. Their previous family home was Galloway House, near Garlieston.
Earls of Galloway (1623)
- Alexander Stewart, 1st Earl of Galloway (died 1649)
- James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Galloway (around 1610–1671)
- Alexander Stewart, 3rd Earl of Galloway (around 1643–1690)
- Alexander Stewart, 4th Earl of Galloway (1660–1694)
- James Stewart, 5th Earl of Galloway (died 1746)
- Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway (around 1694–1773)
- John Stewart, 7th Earl of Galloway (1736–1806)
- George Stewart, 8th Earl of Galloway (1768–1834)
- Randolph Stewart, 9th Earl of Galloway (1800–1873)
- Alan Plantagenet Stewart, 10th Earl of Galloway (1835–1901)
- Randolph Henry Stewart, 11th Earl of Galloway (1836–1920)
- Randolph Algernon Ronald Stewart, 12th Earl of Galloway (1892–1978)
- Randolph Keith Reginald Stewart, 13th Earl of Galloway (1928–2020)
- Andrew Clyde Stewart, 14th Earl of Galloway (born 1949)
The Current Earl
Andrew Clyde Stewart, the 14th Earl of Galloway, was born on March 13, 1949. He is the son of Major Alexander David Stewart and Daphne Marion Bonsor. He went to school at Eton College.
He married Sara Pollock in 1977, but they later divorced in 2001. In 2008, he married Christine Merrick.
On March 27, 2020, he became the Earl of Galloway. He also inherited the titles of Baron Stewart of Garlies and Lord of Garlies. Additionally, he inherited two Baronetcies from Nova Scotia.
With his first wife, the Earl of Galloway has three children:
- Lady Tania Jane Stewart (born 1979)
- Alexander Patrick Stewart, Lord Garlies (born 1980), who is the heir apparent (meaning he is next in line for the title)
- Lady Zoe Inez Stewart (born 1983)
Stewart Baronets, of Burray (1687)
- Sir Archibald Stewart, 1st Baronet (died 1689)
- Sir Archibald Stewart, 2nd Baronet (died 1704)
- Sir Alexander Stewart, 3rd Baronet (around 1694–1773)
The title then passed to the Earls of Galloway, as explained above.
See also
- Baron Seaforth (1921 creation)
- Stewart Baronets
- Clan Stewart
