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Archibald William, 8th Marquess of Queensberry

Archibald William Douglas, 8th Marquess of Queensberry PC (18 April 1818–6 August 1858), styled Viscount Drumlanrig between 1837 and 1856, was a Scottish Conservative Party politician. He notably served as Comptroller of the Household between 1853 and 1856.

The son of John Douglas, 7th Marquess of Queensberry, by Sarah Douglas, daughter of Major James Sholto Douglas, became known by the courtesy title Viscount Drumlanrig when his father succeeded in the marquessate of Queensberry in 1837.

He played first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1841.

Lord Drumlanrig was returned to parliament for Dumfriesshire in 1847. In early 1853 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Comptroller of the Household under Lord Aberdeen, a post he held until 1856, the last year under the premiership of Lord Palmerston. The latter year he succeeded his father in the marquessate. However, as this was a Scottish peerage it did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords. He stood down from the House of Commons in early 1857. Apart from his political career he was also Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfriesshire from 1850 to 1858.

Lord Queensberry married Caroline Margaret Clayton (1821–1904), daughter of General Sir William Clayton, 5th Baronet, the couple having eloped to Gretna Green, Scotland, in 1840.  They had six children:

  • Lady Gertrude Georgiana Douglas (d. 1893), married Thomas Stock
  • John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquis of Queensberry (1844–1900), the man behind the Marquess of Queensberry rules that formed the basis of modern boxing, and, much later, the downfall of author and playwright Oscar Wilde

  • Lord Francis William Bouverie Douglas (1847–1865), beaten by A. W. Moore and party by a day to first ascent of the Ober Gabelhorn, killed a week later in the first successful ascent of the Matterhorn

  • Rev. Lord Archibald Edward Douglas (1850–1938)

  • Lady Florence Caroline Douglas (1855–1905) (twin), war correspondent, travel writer, and feminist

  • Lord James Edward Sholto Douglas (1855–1891) (twin), married Martha Lucy Hennessy in 1888, committed suicide


    • He died while hunting in 1858, officially from the explosion of his gun; the event was widely believed to be a suicide.

    1851 Census
    Name Other Name Relationship Condition Age Sex Occupation Birthplace
    Archibald Douglas The Right Honble. Viscount Drumlanrig   Head Married 32 M Member of Parliament, Lord Lieutenant, Justice of Peace Midlothian, Edinburgh
    Caroline Douglas Viscountess Drumlanrig Douglas Wife Married 29 F   Ireland, Cork
    Honble. Archibald Douglas   Son Unmarried 10 m M   Dumfries, Glen Stewart
    Chris. Maidmont   Servant Unmarried 14 M Groom York, Richmond
    Albert Maidmont   Servant Unmarried 11 M Foot-boy York, Richmond
    Rosetta Salmon   Servant Unmarried 24 F Cook Oxford, Garsington
    Sarah Thomson   Servant Unmarried 50 F Nurse Dumfries
    Elizth. Edger   Servant Unmarried 24 F House Maid Dumfries, Kelhead
    Margret Lennie   Servant Unmarried 20 F Nursery Maid Dumfries
    Eliza Glendinning   Servant Unmarried 18 F Kitchen Maid Roxburghshire

    See also:

  • Lockerbie House

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