William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Queensberry
|
|
|---|---|
The Duke of Queensberry by John Opie
|
|
| Born | 16 December 1724 Peebles
|
| Died | 23 December 1810 (aged 86) London
|
| Occupation | Scottish noble (substantial landowner), racehorse owner, 1760s representative (House of Lords seated) peer |
| Children | Maria Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of Hertford |
| Parent(s) | William Douglas, 2nd Earl of March Lady Anne Hamilton |
William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry (born December 16, 1724 – died December 23, 1810) was an important Scottish nobleman and landowner. People often called him Old Q. He was known for being very wealthy. In 1799, he was one of the richest people in Britain, owning about £1 million. This was a huge amount of money back then!
Contents
Who was William Douglas?
William Douglas was born in a town called Peebles in Scotland. He was the only son of William Douglas, the 2nd Earl of March, and Lady Anne Hamilton. His great-grandfather was the 1st Duke of Queensberry.
William Douglas became a close friend of the Prince of Wales, who later became King George III. In 1760, the King appointed him as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber. This was an important role, helping the King with his daily life.
In 1761, he was made a Knight of the Thistle, which is a special honor. He also served as one of the 16 Scottish representative peers in the British Parliament, representing Scotland from 1761. From 1767 to 1776, he was the Vice Admiral of Scotland, a high-ranking naval position.
Later in his life, he was the Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries from 1794 until 1810. This role meant he was the King's representative in the area of Dumfries.
How William Douglas became a Duke
William Douglas inherited several important titles during his life. When his father passed away in 1731, he became the Earl of March. In 1748, he also inherited the Earldom of Ruglen from his mother.
The biggest title he received was Duke of Queensberry. He became the 4th Duke in 1778 after his cousin Charles passed away. In 1786, he was also given the title Lord Douglas, Baron Douglas.
His Family and Legacy
William Douglas never married. However, he had a daughter named Maria Fagnani with a woman he knew. Maria later married the 3rd Marquess of Hertford.
When William Douglas passed away, he left a lot of his wealth to his daughter, Maria. He also left money to Lady Anne Hamilton, who was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Caroline. He was buried in St James's Church, Piccadilly in London.
After his death, the title of Duke of Queensberry and his home, Drumlanrig Castle, went to his cousin, the 3rd Duke of Buccleuch. Other titles, like the Marquessate of Queensberry, went to different relatives. The Earldom of Ruglen title ended when he died.
Love for Horseracing
William Douglas was very passionate about horseracing. He owned many racehorses. His jockeys, who rode his horses, wore special racing silks that were deep red with a black cap. He was often seen at important horse races.
Portrayal in Books
William Douglas was briefly shown in a novel called The Virginians by William Makepeace Thackeray. In the book, he was called "Lord March."
Images for kids
-
William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensbury
