William Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton facts for kids
William Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton (born in 1582 – died on August 7, 1648) was an important Scottish nobleman. He was the grandson of the 6th Earl of Morton. William Douglas held the important job of Treasurer of Scotland, which meant he managed the country's money. He was also a strong supporter of the King during a time of conflict, known as a Royalist.
Contents
William Douglas's Life Story
William Douglas was the son of Robert Douglas, Master of Morton, and Jean Lyon. His mother was the daughter of John Lyon, 8th Lord Glamis.
Early Life and Travels
In 1602, there was talk that the "young Earl of Morton" might marry Elizabeth Stewart. She was the daughter of Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell and was described as a "very gallant lady."
In May 1617, William Douglas was traveling in France. He met Henry Erskine, whose father was the Earl of Mar. William Douglas later became very sick while in Paris. King James, the ruler at the time, was worried about him. The King even wrote a letter in March 1618 to make sure William's son would still get his inheritance if William didn't recover. Luckily, William Douglas did get better!
Important Roles and Contributions
When King James VI and I died in April 1625, William Douglas and another Earl were noticed for not being present. They had gone to a different place to "be merry" with a friend. This was seen as not showing proper respect during a sad time.
From 1630 to 1636, William Douglas served as the Treasurer of Scotland. This was a very important role, as he was in charge of the country's finances. During this time, he also made his home, Aberdour Castle in Fife, even grander. He added a new part to the castle in a Renaissance style. This new section included a long room called a gallery that looked out over a beautiful garden with different levels.
When the Wars of the Three Kingdoms began in 1642, William Douglas showed his strong support for the King. He sold his estates in Dalkeith to the Earl of Buccleuch. From this sale, he gave a huge amount of money, £100,000, to help the Royalist cause. This was a very large sum of money back then!
His Family
On March 28, 1604, William Douglas married Lady Anne Keith. She was the daughter of George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal. William and Anne had ten children together:
- Margaret Douglas (1610–1678), who married Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll. They had children.
- Anne Douglas (died 1667), who married George Hay, 2nd Earl of Kinnoull. They also had children.
- Robert Douglas, 8th Earl of Morton (died 1649), who married Anne Villiers. Their son was William Douglas, 9th Earl of Morton (died 1681).
- Lady Mary Douglas, who married Charles Seton, 2nd Earl of Dunfermline. They had children.
- James Douglas, 10th Earl of Morton (died 1686). He became the Earl after his nephew.
- Isabel Douglas (died 1650), who married James Graham, 2nd Marquess of Montrose. They had children.
- Nicholas Douglas (died 1686).
- Jean Douglas, who married James Home, 3rd Earl of Home.
- Agnes Douglas.
