Marquess of Queensberry


Marquess of Queensberry is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. The title has been held since its creation in 1682 by a member of the Douglas family. The Marquesses also held the title of Duke of Queensberry from 1684 to 1810, when it was inherited by the Duke of Buccleuch.

History

The feudal barony of Drumlanrig was held by Sir William Douglas, illegitimate son of the 2nd Earl of Douglas and Mar, some time before 1427, when he died. His descendant William Douglas, 9th of Drumlanrig, was created the 1st Earl of Queensberry in 1633.
The subsidiary titles of Lord Queensberry are: Earl of Queensberry, Viscount Drumlanrig and Lord Douglas of Hawick and Tibbers, all in the peerage of Scotland. He is also a Scottish baronet, styled "of Kelhead", created 26 February 1668, so the 6th Marquess was the 5th Baronet. The courtesy title used by Lord Queensberry's eldest son and heir is Viscount Drumlanrig. There is no special courtesy title for Lord Drumlanrig's eldest son and heir.
The family seat of the Marquesses of Queensberry was Kinmount House in the parish of Cummertrees, south Scotland, which was sold by the [John Douglas, John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry|9th Marquess of Queensberry|9th Marquess] in 1896. The traditional burial place of the Marquesses of Queensberry is the Douglas family mausoleum at Cummertrees Parish Church.
The 9th Marquess is particularly well known because of the rules of boxing that were named after him, and for his litigious interaction with Oscar Wilde.
On 22 June 1893, Queen Victoria raised Francis Archibald, Viscount Drumlanrig, the heir of the 9th Marquess, to the peerage of the United Kingdom as Baron Kelhead. Francis, Lord Drumlanrig, died without descendants the following year and the title "Baron Kelhead" became extinct.

Lairds of Drumlanrig

  • William Douglas, 1st of Drumlanrig
  • William Douglas, 2nd of Drumlanrig
  • William Douglas, 3rd of Drumlanrig
  • William Douglas, 4th of Drumlanrig
  • James Douglas, 5th of Drumlanrig
  • William Douglas, 6th of Drumlanrig
  • James Douglas, 7th of Drumlanrig
  • James Douglas, 8th of Drumlanrig
  • William Douglas, 9th of Drumlanrig, 1st Earl of Queensberry

Earls of Queensberry (1633)

Marquesses (1682) and Dukes of Queensberry (1684)

The 2nd Duke of Queensberry surrendered all of his titles except the Marquessate and its subsidiary titles to the Crown and obtained a new grant under the same precedence with remainder to the Dukedom and those subsidiary titles bypassing his second son to his third son and further to the heirs male and female of the 1st Earl of Queensberry. Upon his death the Marquessate passed to James Douglas, 3rd Marquess and a homicidal maniac known as "the Cannibalistic Idiot." He was excluded from his father's titles after the duke's death, which instead passed to Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke. The 3rd Duke also succeeded as Marquess upon the latter's death at age 17.
The Dukedom of Queensberry passed by special remainder to the heirs male or female of the 1st Earl of Queensberry who was Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch, son of Francis Scott, Earl of Dalkeith through Lady Jean Douglas who was eldest daughter surviving infancy of the 2nd Duke of Queensberry.

Marquesses of Queensberry from 1810 (cont. 1682)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son Sholto Francis Guy Douglas, Viscount Drumlanrig.
The heir apparent's heir presumptive is his brother Lord Torquil Oberon Tobias Douglas.

Baronets, of Kelhead (26 February 1668)

''See above for further succession''

Family tree and line of succession

John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry
  • * Percy Douglas, 10th Marquess of Queensberry
  • ** Francis Douglas, 11th Marquess of Queensberry
  • *** David Douglas, 12th Marquess of Queensberry
  • ****. Sholto Francis Guy Douglas, Viscount Drumlanrig
  • ****. Lord Torquil Oberon Tobias Douglas
  • ***. Lord Gawain Archibald Francis Douglas
  • ****. Jamie Sholto Francis Douglas
  • *****. Nikhel Jamie Gawain Douglas
  • *Lord Sholto George Douglas
  • **Sholto Augustus Douglas
  • ***male issue in remainder
There are other heirs in remainder to the marquessate descended from the younger heirs male of Sir William Douglas, 4th Baronet.