John Douglas, 2nd Earl of Morton facts for kids
John Douglas, 2nd Earl of Morton was an important Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 1400s and early 1500s. He was known for being very wealthy and smart, focusing on his lands rather than getting involved in political fights. He sadly died in a big battle called the Battle of Flodden on September 9, 1513.
A Nobleman's Life
John Douglas was the son of James Douglas, 1st Earl of Morton and Princess Joan Stewart, Countess of Morton. His mother was the daughter of James I of Scotland, a Scottish king. John became the Earl of Morton in 1493 after his father passed away. His son, James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton, later took his place as earl.
Unlike many other powerful people of his time, John Douglas was not interested in political arguments or schemes. Instead, he was a very clever and careful man who worked hard to make his family's lands and wealth even better. He was also very good at handling legal matters. He often went to court to protect his family's property and interests, and he was usually successful.
It turned out that John, as the lord of Dalkeith, knew his land was very valuable. It had important resources both above and below the ground. In fact, his land was located over what was later called the Great Midlothian Coalfield, which held a lot of coal.
His Family and Children
John Douglas married a woman named Janet Crichton. She was the daughter of Patrick Crichton of Cranston-Riddel. Together, John and Janet had two sons and two daughters.
- James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton – He became the next Earl of Morton and passed away in 1548.
- Richard Douglas – He was mentioned in family records about the Morton estates. Richard had two sons named William and James.
- Agnes Douglas – She married Alexander Livingston, 5th Lord Livingston.
- Elizabeth Douglas – She married her second cousin, Robert Keith, who was the Master of Marischal. Their son, William, later became the 4th Earl Marischal.
