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Archibald Douglas, first earl of Forfar (1653–1712), nobleman, was born
in Lanarkshire on 3 May 1653, the eldest son of the second marriage of Archibald
Douglas, earl of Angus (c.1609–1655), to Lady Jean Wemyss (d. 1715),
eldest daughter of David Wemyss, second earl of Wemyss. On his father's
death, in January 1655, Douglas ought to have succeeded to the title of
second earl of Ormond, which his father obtained from Charles II in
April 1651 for himself and the heirs-male of his second marriage.
However, owing to Charles's defeat at
Worcester and the establishment of the Commonwealth, the patent
never passed the great seal, and the title of earl of Ormond was never
borne by either father or son. Nevertheless, after the Restoration, by
patent dated 2 October 1661, the king created Douglas earl of Forfar,
Lord Wandell and Hartside, with precedency dating from the original
grant of 1651.
Forfar sat in parliament in 1670, but there
appears to be little record of the earl's public life until the
revolution of 1688. This is probably due to his apparent dissatisfaction
with aspects of the Scottish policy of both Charles II and James VII and
II. Like his father, he seems to have held covenanting sympathies. In
1685 a complaint was brought before the privy council that Forfar, along
with various others, had since August 1679 ‘attended house and field
conventicles in the shires of Lanerk … or elsewhere, and heard divers
rebels and vagrant preachers, “these trumpets of sedition and
rebellion”’, and had ‘proposed to levy money for rebels, prisoners or
banished persons’ (Reg. PCS, 10.121).
After the revolution Forfar
was sworn of the privy council, and regularly attended parliament and
council. He was appointed one of the commissioners for executing the
office of keeper of the privy seal, and in March 1689 subscribed both
the act declaring the convention to be a lawful meeting of the estates,
and the letter of congratulation to King William. Throughout the period
from 1689 to 1702 he was actively employed on a number of committees
dealing with a variety of subjects, receiving the praise of the duke of
Hamilton for having carried himself very well in parliament.
Following the accession of Queen Anne, Forfar remained active in public
affairs. He was a member of the privy council, and one of the lords of
the Treasury—an office he held until the dissolution of that court, in
consequence of the treaty of Union. Queen Anne promised him an
equivalent post, and until it was obtained gave him in compensation a
yearly pension of £300, although, ultimately, no similar position was
forthcoming. During the debates concerning parliamentary Union, Forfar
appears to have steadily voted with the government.
Forfar
married Robina (1661/2–1749), daughter of Sir William Lockhart of Lee
and a close friend of Queen Mary. He possessed the baronies of Bothwell
and Wandell in Lanarkshire, but resided chiefly at Bothwell
Castle.
He built Bothwell
House as his new residence, using stone from the castle.
He
died at Bothwell on 23 December 1712 and was buried in
Bothwell church,
where his countess erected a monument to his memory. He was succeeded as
earl by their only son, Archibald Douglas (1692–1715).
Note:
Archibald Douglas, Earl of Forfar voted for the Union of Crowns in 1707,
having allegedly received £100 in payment from the English.
Baron
Alexander Douglas of Eagleshaw also voted for the Union, but received no
payment, as did the Earl of Mortoun (sic).
Barons Archibald Douglas
of Cavers and William Douglas of Dornock voted against the Union.
Father: Archibald
(Earl Angus) Douglas
Mother: Jean Wemyss
Archibald
Douglas, 1st Earl of Forfar (b 03.05.1653, d 23.12.1712)
m.Robina Lockhart (d 1741, dau of Sir William Lockhart of Lee)
(1)Archibald
Douglas, 2nd Earl of Forfar (b 25.05.1692, d
unm after Sheriffmuir 03.12.1715 |
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