Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry
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The Duke of Buccleuch photographed by H. J. Whitlock c. 1860s
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| Lord President of the Council | |
| In office 21 January 1846 – 6 July 1846 |
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| Prime Minister | Sir Robert Peel, Bt |
| Preceded by | The Lord Wharncliffe |
| Succeeded by | The Marquess of Lansdowne |
| Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal | |
| In office 2 February 1842 – 21 January 1846 |
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| Prime Minister | Sir Robert Peel, Bt |
| Preceded by | The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Haddington |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lord Walter Francis Montagu-Scott
25 November 1806 Dalkeith Palace, Midlothian, Scotland |
| Died | 16 April 1884 (aged 77) Bowhill House, Selkirkshire, Scotland |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Lady Charlotte Thynne |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott (born November 25, 1806, died April 16, 1884) was a very important Scottish nobleman. He was known as the 5th Duke of Buccleuch and 7th Duke of Queensberry. He held high political positions, serving as the Lord Privy Seal and Lord President of the Council.
Contents
Early Life and Education
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Walter was born at Dalkeith Palace in Scotland. He was the second son in a family of seven children. His father was Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch.
When Walter was young, his older brother, George Henry, sadly passed away at age 10. This meant Walter became the next in line to inherit the titles of Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry. He became a Duke at just 13 years old after his father died in 1819.
He went to Eton College, a famous school, and then studied at St John's College, Cambridge University. In 1833, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a group of top scientists.
Political and Public Career
The Duke of Buccleuch owned a lot of land in Scotland. He was a member of the Conservative Party in politics. In 1835, he was made a Knight of the Garter, which is a very special honor. He also became a Privy Counsellor in 1842.
He held important government jobs:
- He was Lord Privy Seal from 1842 to 1846. This role involved looking after the King's or Queen's private seal.
- He was Lord President of the Council from January to July 1846. This person leads the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the monarch.
He worked in the government of Robert Peel. He supported Peel's decision to change the Corn Laws, which were rules about importing grain. After Peel's government ended, the Duke mostly stepped back from politics.
In 1878, he became the Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. He held this important position until he passed away in 1884.
The Duke also had a military role. In 1842, he became a Colonel of the Queen's Edinburgh Light Infantry Militia, a local army group. He was also an Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria for the militia. This meant he helped the Queen with military matters.
He joined the Canterbury Association in 1848. This group planned to build a town in New Zealand named Buccleuch after him, but it was never built.
Family Life
The Duke of Buccleuch married Lady Charlotte Anne Thynne in London on August 13, 1829. They had seven children together: four sons and three daughters.
Their children were:
- William Henry Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, who became the 6th Duke of Buccleuch.
- Lord Henry John Montagu Douglas Scott Montagu, who later became the 1st Baron Montagu of Beaulieu.
- Lord Walter Charles Montagu Douglas Scott.
- Admiral Lord Charles Thomas Montagu Douglas Scott.
- Lady Victoria Alexandrina Montagu Douglas Scott.
- Lady Margaret Elizabeth Montagu Douglas Scott.
- Lady Mary Charlotte Montagu Douglas Scott.
Royal Connections
The Duke of Buccleuch had close ties with the British Royal Family. King George IV stayed at Dalkeith Palace in 1822 as the Duke's guest. This was the first time a ruling King from the Hanoverian family had visited Scotland.
Twenty years later, Queen Victoria also visited him. The Duke and his family were often invited to royal events, like the coronations of William IV and Queen Victoria. The Duke even had a special role as "Gold Stick" during these ceremonies.
There is a famous story about the Duke and a historical document. In 1879, a group called the Historical Manuscripts Commission found an old box among the Duke's papers. Inside, they supposedly found a document that suggested Charles II had married a woman named Lucy Walter. This document, if true, would have meant that the Duke was the rightful King of the United Kingdom, as he was a direct descendant of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, who was Charles II's son. However, the story says that when the Duke saw the document, he threw it into the fire, saying it "might cause a lot of trouble."
Death and Burial
The Duke of Buccleuch passed away at Bowhill House in Scotland in April 1884. He was 77 years old. His eldest son, William, became the next Duke.
He was buried in the family crypt at the Buccleuch Memorial Chapel. This chapel is part of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Dalkeith, Scotland.
See also
- Duke of Buccleuch's Hunt
- Duke of Buccleuch Collection
- James Scott, Duke of Monmouth
