Viscount of Oxfuird facts for kids
The Viscount of Oxfuird is a special old title in Scotland. It's like being a noble or a lord. This title was first given out in 1651. It also came with another title called Lord Makgill of Cousland. These titles are part of the Peerage of Scotland, which is a list of all the noble titles in Scotland.
The first person to get this title was Sir James Makgill. He had already been made a Baronet in 1625. A Baronet is another type of inherited title, but it's not as high as a Viscount. The Makgill family has a special family symbol that shows their history.
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How the Title Started
The title of Viscount of Oxfuird was created in 1651. It was given to Sir James Makgill, who became the 1st Viscount. Along with it, he also received the title of Lord Makgill of Cousland. These titles were meant to be passed down through his family.
Sir James Makgill had already been made a Baronet in 1625. This Baronet title was also meant to be passed down. The rules for passing on these titles were quite old and sometimes confusing.
A Long-Running Family Mystery
When the first Viscount's son, Robert Makgill (the 2nd Viscount), passed away, things got complicated. His daughter, Christian, thought she should inherit the titles. She even used the title of Viscountess. Her son also voted as the "Viscount of Oxfuird" in 1733.
However, the rules for inheriting these titles were very specific. In 1977, a special group called the Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords looked into the matter. They decided that Christian was not the rightful heir.
They ruled that the titles should have gone to a male relative. This relative was David Makgill, who became the "rightful" or de jure 3rd Viscount. He was a distant cousin of the first Viscount.
The Search for the True Heir
After David Makgill, the title continued to pass down through his male relatives. But because of the earlier confusion, these people were only the de jure (rightful) Viscounts. They didn't officially hold the title.
One of these rightful heirs was George Makgill, the de jure 7th Viscount. He fought in the army of Bonnie Prince Charles. He faced punishment for this but was later forgiven.
Later, John Makgill, the de jure 10th Viscount, tried to claim the titles again. After he passed away in 1906, the Baronet title was officially given to his son. But the Viscount and Lord titles were still "dormant," meaning they were sleeping or not officially recognized.
The Title is Finally Confirmed
It wasn't until 1977 that the titles were officially confirmed. Sir Donald Makgill, the 12th Baronet, was the one who finally proved his family's claim. The Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords agreed with him.
He was then officially recognized as the 12th Viscount of Oxfuird. He even received a special invitation to join the House of Lords. The House of Lords is a part of the UK Parliament where important people discuss and make laws.
His nephew, George Hubbard Makgill, became the 13th Viscount. He was a Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords. After a law change in 1999, he was one of the few hereditary peers who could stay in the House of Lords. He passed away in 2003.
Today, his eldest twin son, Ian Alexander Arthur Makgill, is the 14th Viscount of Oxfuird. He is the current holder of these historic titles.
About the Name and Home
The title "Viscount of Oxfuird" is pronounced "Oxfurd." Sometimes, people shorten it to "Viscount Oxfuird," but the full name is the correct one.
The family's original home was Oxenfoord Castle in Midlothian, Scotland. The Makgill family built this castle in the 1500s.
The Viscount of Oxfuird is also the hereditary Chief of Clan Makgill. This means he is the traditional leader of the Makgill family clan.
Viscounts of Oxfuird (1651)
- James Makgill, 1st Viscount of Oxfuird (died 1663)
- Robert Makgill, 2nd Viscount of Oxfuird (1651–1706) (title became dormant in 1706)
- David Makgill, de jure 3rd Viscount of Oxfuird (died 1717)
- James Makgill, de jure 4th Viscount of Oxfuird (died 1747)
- John Makgill, de jure 5th Viscount of Oxfuird (1676–1762)
- Arthur Makgill, de jure 6th Viscount of Oxfuird (1709–1777)
- George Makgill, de jure 7th Viscount of Oxfuird (1723–1797)
- John Makgill, de jure 8th Viscount of Oxfuird (around 1790–1817)
- George Makgill, de jure 9th Viscount of Oxfuird (1812–1878)
- John Makgill, de jure 10th Viscount of Oxfuird (1836–1906)
- George Makgill, de jure 11th Viscount of Oxfuird, 11th Baronet (1868–1926) (confirmed as 11th Baronet in 1906)
- (John) Donald Arthur Alexander Makgill, 12th Viscount of Oxfuird (1899–1986) (titles confirmed in 1977)
- George Hubbard Makgill, 13th Viscount of Oxfuird (1934–2003)
- Ian Alexander Arthur Makgill, 14th Viscount of Oxfuird (born 1969)
The person who is expected to inherit the title next is the current Viscount's son, the Hon. Max George Samuel Makgill, Master of Oxfuird (born 2012).
