William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus facts for kids
William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus (1533 – 1 July 1591, at Glenbervie) was an important Scottish nobleman. He was a very strong supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, who was the Queen of Scotland during his lifetime.
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About William Douglas
William Douglas was the oldest son of Sir Archibald Douglas of Glenbervie. His mother was Agnes, whose father was William Keith, 3rd Earl Marischal. When Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus passed away in 1588 without any children, William became the next Earl of Angus. This meant he inherited the title and lands.
People at the time described William Douglas as a man of great honor. He was known for his honesty and for being a loyal friend to Queen Mary. He even went with her on a trip to the north of Scotland. He showed great bravery and determination during the battle of Corrichie in 1562.
A Disagreement at Holyrood Palace
One time, William Douglas had a disagreement with Lord John Hamilton. They were arguing about who should go first in the king's private room at Holyrood Palace. King James VI heard them from his bedroom and came out. He helped them settle their argument. Meanwhile, the Captain of the Guard, Sir John Carmichael, had made sure the palace was safe. William Douglas had to signal to his followers from a window that everything was fine.
The Earldom Claim
King James VI tried to claim the title of Earl of Angus for himself. He even started a lawsuit against William Douglas. However, on March 7, 1589, the court decided that William Douglas was the rightful Earl.
William Douglas also received special documents from Queen Mary. These documents, called "charters under The Great Seal of Scotland", officially gave him ownership of lands like Glenbervie and Kemnay. He passed away in July 1591, when he was 58 years old.
William Douglas's Family
William Douglas married a woman named Giles. She was the daughter of Sir Robert Graham of Morphie. Together, they had several children.
- William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus, who was their oldest son and inherited the title after his father.
- Archibald Douglas, who became a church leader in Glenbervie.
- George Douglas, who traveled with King James VI to Denmark.
- Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, who received the lands of Glenbervie from his father.
- Duncan Douglas, who also became a church leader in Glenbervie.
- Gavin Douglas, whose family became known as the Douglas of Bridgeford.
- Sir John Douglas of Barras.
- Francis Douglas.
- Henry Douglas of Tannachy.
- Margaret Douglas, who married William Forbes.
- Jean Douglas, who married John Wishart.
- Elizabeth Douglas, who married Thomas Gordon.
- Sarah Douglas, who married Robert Strachan and later George Auchinleck.
