William Duff, 1st Earl Fife facts for kids
William Duff, 1st Earl Fife (born 1697, died 1763) was an important Scottish landowner and politician. He owned large areas of land in Scotland, especially around Braco in Banff. He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the British government from 1727 to 1734.
Early Life and Family
William Duff was born in 1697. His father, also named William Duff, was a successful merchant. When his father passed away in 1722, William inherited a lot of land and wealth.
In 1723, William Duff married Jean Grant. She was the daughter of Sir James Grant, a well-known figure from Pluscardine. William and Jean had many children together, including five sons and six daughters.
Political Career
In 1727, William Duff became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Banffshire without anyone running against him. This meant he was the only candidate, so he automatically won the election.
As an MP, William Duff sometimes disagreed with the government. For example, in 1730, he spoke and voted against the government's plans regarding soldiers from Hesse (a German state). He also voted against a law called the Septennial Act in 1734.
In 1734, William Duff decided not to run for MP again. Instead, his brother-in-law, James Abercromby, took his place. James Abercromby supported the government, and because of this, William Duff received a special honor. In 1735, he was given the title of Lord Braco of Kilbryde. This was a title in the Peerage of Ireland, which meant he became a lord.
Even after leaving Parliament, William Duff remained very influential in the politics of Banffshire. He was a powerful figure in the area.
Building Duff House
In 1740, William Duff started building a magnificent house called Duff House in Banff. It was a very grand project and showed his wealth and importance.
Later, in 1759, William Duff received even higher titles. He was made Earl Fife and Viscount Macduff. These titles were also in the Peerage of Ireland. He received them because he could prove his family was descended from the ancient MacDuffs, who were important Earls of Fife a long time ago.
Death and Legacy
William Duff, the 1st Earl Fife, passed away on September 30, 1763. He was first buried in a church in Grange, but later his remains were moved to a special mausoleum at Duff House.
His eldest son, James, inherited his father's titles and became the 2nd Earl Fife. When James died without children in 1809, his younger brother, Alexander, became the 3rd Earl Fife. Another one of William Duff's sons, Arthur, also became a Member of Parliament, continuing the family's involvement in politics.
