James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas (c.1646 – 25 February 1700)
[David Menarry, 'Douglas, James, second Marquess of Douglas (c.1646–1700)’, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004.] was the son of
Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus and 1st
Earl of Ormond, and Lady Anne Stuart.
James, second Marquis of Douglas, born in 1646, succeeded
his grandfather in 1660, and was a
privy councillor to Kings
Charles II and
James VII. He died 25 February 1700, in the 54th year of his age. His eldest son,
James,
Earl of Angus
The Mormaer or Earl of Angus was the ruler of the medieval Scottish Provinces of Scotland, province of Angus, Scotland, Angus. The title, in the Peerage of Scotland, is held by the Duke of Hamilton, and is used as a courtesy title for the eldes ...
, born in 1671, in 1689 raised for the service of the nation, in one day, a regiment of eighteen hundred men, now called the 26th foot or
Cameronians, of which he was appointed colonel, 19 April of that year. After much active service he fell at the
Battle of Steinkirk 3d August 1692, in the 21st year of his age, unmarried. His half brother, William, also bore the title of earl of Angus, but died an infant in 1694.
Archibald, the third son of the second marquis, succeeded as third marquis.
His first marriage was in 1670 to the
Lady Barbara Erskine, daughter of John Erskine, 21st
Earl of Mar
There are currently two earldoms of Mar in the Peerage of Scotland, and the title has been created seven times. The first creation of the earldom is currently held by Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar, who is also clan chief of Clan Mar. Th ...
and Jean Mackenzie. He later married Mary Kerr, daughter of
Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian and Lady Jean Campbell.
The story of the end of the marriage between James Douglas and Barbara Erskine is immortalized in the popular ballad ''
Waly Waly'', which is known by many alternative titles (e.g. ''
Jamie Douglas'', ''When Cockleshells Turn Silver Bells'', ''Water Is Wide'') with many alternative lyrics and melodies. If the lyrics are to be believed, in 1681 a rumour apparently was put to Douglas by Lowrie of Blackwood that Erskine had been sleeping with another man, and Douglas promptly dropped her. Her father took her home and she never remarried.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of
1640s births
1700 deaths
Nobility from South Lanarkshire
James Douglas, 2nd Marquess of Douglas
Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1689
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