Francis Wemyss Charteris Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss, 4th Earl of March (15 April 177228 June 1853), known as the Earl of March from 1810 to 1826 and as the Earl of Wemyss and March from 1826 to 1853, was a Scottish peer.

Background

Wemyss was the son of Francis Wemyss Charteris, Lord Elcho (1749–1808), and the grandson of Francis Charteris, ''de jure'' 7th Earl of Wemyss. He was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI of England, Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. i ...

1780 to 1787. In 1810 he succeeded his second cousin twice removed William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry and 3rd Earl of March to the Earldom of March, as the lineal heir male of the aforementioned Lady Anne Douglas, sister of the first Earl of March. He then assumed the surname of Douglas.

Public life

In 1821 he was created Baron Wemyss, of Wemyss in the County of Fife, in the

Peerage of the United Kingdom The Peerage of the United Kingdom is one of the five Peerages in the United Kingdom. It comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Acts of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great ...

, which entitled him to an automatic seat in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminst ...

. In 1826 he obtained a reversal of the attainder of the earldom of Wemyss and became the eighth Earl of Wemyss as well. From 1821 to 1853 he served as

Lord-Lieutenant of Peeblesshire This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant A lord-lieutenant ( ) is the British monarch's personal representative in each lieutenancy area of the United Kingdom. Historically, each lieutenant was responsible for organising the co ...

. In 1830 he had the roof of

Elcho Castle Elcho Castle () is located close to the south bank of the River Tay approximately four miles south-east of Perth, Scotland, in the region of Perth and Kinross. It was maintained by Clan Wemyss from its construction around 1560 until it was put ...

repaired.

Family

On 31 May 1794, he married Margaret, dau. of Walter Cambell of Shawfield & Islay and they had eight children: *Lady Charlotte Charteris (died 1886) *Lady Louisa Antoinetta Charteris (died 1854) *Lady Harriet Charteris (died 1858) *Lady Eleanor Charteris (1796–1832), married her cousin Walter Frederick Campbell of Shawfield * Francis Wemyss-Charteris, 9th Earl of Wemyss (1796–1883) *Walter Charteris (1797–1818) *Lady Margaret Charteris (1800–1825) *Lady Katherine Charteris Wemyss (1801–1844), married her first cousin George Grey, 8th Baron Grey of Groby.

References

External links

* 1772 births 1853 deaths 8 Lord-Lieutenants of Peeblesshire Earls of March (Scotland) People educated at Eton College Francis Douglas Peers of the United Kingdom created by George IV {{Scotland-earl-stub