Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 8th Duke of Buccleuch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry
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| Born | 30 December 1894 |
| Died | 4 October 1973 (aged 78) |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Lascelles (m. 1921) |
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Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott, 8th Duke of Buccleuch and 10th Duke of Queensberry (born December 30, 1894 – died October 4, 1973) was an important British nobleman and a Conservative politician. He held the title of Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, which is a very old and respected noble title in Scotland.
Early Life and Education
Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott was born on December 30, 1894. His father was John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch. His mother was Lady Margaret Alice Bridgeman.
His sister, Alice, married Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in 1935. Prince Henry was one of the uncles of Queen Elizabeth II. This made Alice a member of the British Royal Family.
Walter went to Eton College, a famous school, and then to Christ Church, Oxford, a well-known university. He also had a military career. He was in charge of the 4th King's Own Scottish Borderers, which was a military unit. He was also the Captain-General of the Royal Company of Archers. This is a ceremonial group that acts as the monarch's bodyguard in Scotland.
Political Career and Views
Before he became a Duke, Walter was known as the Earl of Dalkeith. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire from 1923 to 1935. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the British Parliament. He was part of the Scottish Unionist Party.
In 1935, he inherited the titles of Duke of Buccleuch and Duke of Queensberry. This meant he left his role as an MP. His brother, Lord William Scott, took over his seat in Parliament.
Walter held some views that were different from the British government's at the time. He had met with the German ambassador in London. He was seen by some as being sympathetic towards Germany before World War II. He even attended Hitler's 50th birthday celebration in 1939. He did not want Britain to go to war with Germany. After the war began, he supported the idea of a truce. This truce would have allowed Germany to keep the territories it had conquered.
Because of his views, he was asked to step down from his role as Lord Steward by King George VI. The Lord Steward is a high-ranking official in the Royal Household.
During World War II, workers from the British Honduran Forestry Unit came to Scotland to help with the war effort. Walter expressed concerns about these workers. He suggested they were not working hard enough. He was also worried that some of them had married local women. Harold Macmillan, who was a government official, responded to these concerns. He explained that the extreme cold in Scotland, very different from their tropical home, was likely the main problem for the Honduran workers.
Family Life
Walter married Vreda Esther Mary Lascelles on April 21, 1921. She was the granddaughter of William Beauclerk, 10th Duke of St Albans.
They had three children:
- Lady Elizabeth Montagu Douglas Scott (1922–2012). She married Hugh Percy, 10th Duke of Northumberland in 1946.
- Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 9th Duke of Buccleuch (1923–2007). He married Jane McNeill in 1953.
- Lady Caroline Montagu Douglas Scott (1927–2004). She married Ian Gilmour, Baron Gilmour of Craigmillar in 1951.
Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott passed away on October 4, 1973. He was buried in the ruins of Melrose Abbey in Scotland.
