John Dalzell, 4th Earl of Carnwath facts for kids

John Dalzell (born in 1649, died in 1702) was a Scottish nobleman and a soldier. He was the son of Gavin Dalzell, who was the 2nd Earl of Carnwath.

Becoming an Earl

John Dalzell became the 4th Earl of Carnwath and Lord Dalzell in June 1683. He received these important titles after his brother passed away.

What are Noble Titles?

Noble titles like "Earl" or "Lord" are special names given to people from important families, often for their service to the country or king. These titles usually pass down through the family, often from parent to child.

A Special Rule for Titles

The titles of Earl of Carnwath and Lord Dalzell had a very special rule called a "remainder." This rule decided who would get the titles next. Usually, titles go to the oldest son, then his oldest son, and so on. But for the Dalzell titles, the rule said they could pass to any male relative who had the "Dalzell" family name and used the "Dalzell" family crest.

This meant that if the direct family line (like sons and grandsons) of the first Earl ended, the titles could still go to a male relative from a different branch of the family, as long as they were a Dalzell. They didn't have to be a direct descendant of the first Earl.

Passing on the Titles

When Lord Carnwath passed away on June 7, 1702, the direct family line of the first Earl ended. Because of the special "remainder" rule, the titles could then pass to a distant cousin. This is called "collateral succession," which means the titles went to a side branch of the family, not directly down from parent to child.

So, the titles went to Sir Robert Dalzell, 3rd Baronet, who was a senior male relative of the first Lord Dalzell. If it weren't for this special rule, the Earldom of Carnwath would have ended, and only the Lordship would have been passed on.