 Sir George Henry Scott-douglas was the son of
the 3rd bart., Sir John James Douglas, of
Springwood Park, bv
the only dau. and heir of Henry Scott, Esq., of Belford, Roxburghshire (she
subsequently married William Scott Kerr, Esq., of Chatto, and died 1850).
Following family tradition, Sir George Henry
Scott Douglas, (4th Baronet) joined the army and rose to a Captaincy in
the 34th Regiment of Foot which later became the Border Regiment.
We are fortunate that Sir George kept a diary throughout his army
career which illuminates regimental life and paints a vivid picture of his
many sailing exploits in his cutter Vampire and his yacht Ariel. He became
a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron. He returned to Kelso in 1853 and
embarked on an extensive building programme at Springwood Park, Kelso,
much of which stands to this day.
In 1874 he successfully stood against the Marquis of Bowmont to become
Member of Parliament. At his death in 1885 he was much lamented by the
people of Kelso and district: letters of condolence survive from the Royal
Company of Archers; the Border Rifle Volunteers; Kelso School Board; the
Edinburgh Border Association; the Ornithological Society; Kelso Choral
Union; the Tweedside Physical & Antiquarian Society and many more.
Sir George was born on 22nd December 1856 in Gibraltar, his mother's (Dona
Sanchez de Pina, the eldest dau. of Francisco Sanchez di Pina, Esq., of
Gibraltar); appointed capt. 34th foot in 1850, retired 1851;
capt. 2nd Roxburghshirerine volunteers 1860.
His first son James, known to the
family as Jamie, joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers and was killed at
Kwamagwasa during the Zulu wars so it was his second son, Sir
George Brisbane Douglas (he dropped Scott from the family name) who
became the fifth baronet.
Based on research by Ian Abernethy, author of "The High Toun on
the Hill", a history of the village of Heiton.
Titles and British Honours: 4th Baronet (1836).
Profession: Soldier,
Politician.
Appointments Held: Captain, 34th Regiment; MP Roxburgh;
Honorary Colonel Border Rifle Volunteers.
Marital Status: Married (1851)
Mariquita Juana Petronila Sanchez de Pina.
Mother: Hannah Charlotte
Scott.
Father: Sir John James Douglas (from 1822 Scott Douglas)
1792-1836, 3rd Baronet.
References: Burke's Peerage and Baronetage 1899.
Date of Election: 17/02/1851.
Proposers: Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane,
2/12/1850, (ms Proposal NLS Acc 10,000/47).
Resigned/Removed/Election
Cancelled/Not Admitted: Resigned.
Date of Resignation: Resigned 1859.
Notes: Died June 1885.
Fellow Type: OF.
Fellow of the Royal Society of
Edinburgh
See also:
• Family seal
• The
family pedigree that he commissioned.
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