William Douglas, 9th Earl of Morton

William married Grizel, daughter of John, Earl of Middleton, in 1662. Their only son, Charles, died in infancy in 1663. 

William took steps to shore up the grant of the Islands of Orkney and Zetland given to his grandfather, Sir William, 7th Earl of Morton, but the Islands were annexed to the Crown, by Act of Parliament, on December 27, 1669. 

On September 9, 1672 he resigned the Barony of Dalkeith in favour of James, the Duke of Buccleuch. William died in 1681 leaving no heir, passing the Earldom to his uncle.

Death: 1681

Father: Robert (8th Earl of Morton) Douglas
Mother: Anne Villers

Marriage 1 Lady Grizel Middleton
Children
  1. Has Children Anne (of Morton) Douglas = William (6th Earl Marischal) Keith b: 1614

 

William Douglas, Earl of Mortoun - 7th March 1663.


AT DUNDEE, THE SAID DAY THE PERSONS UNDERNAMED WERE ADMITTED BURGESSES AND GUILD BRETHREN OF THE SAID BURGH, GRATIS : WILLIAM, EARLL OF MORTOUN; DAVID, LORD LOWRE; CHARLES, LORD CLAREMONTH, ANDREW MIDDLETOUN, BROTHER TO THE EARLL OF MIDDLETOUN; SIR ALEXANDER DURHAM, LORD LYON; SIR JOHN STRACHAN, RECEIVER OF His MAIESTIE'S REVENUES; MUNGO MURRAY, CORNET To His MAIESTIE'S LYFE GUARDS.

WILLIAM, tenth EARL OF MORTON, was the son of ROBERT, LORD DALKEITH, and the grandson of WILLIAM, eighth EARL OF MORTON, who were admitted Burgesses of Dundee on 10th April, 1622. He succeeded his father as EARL OF MORTON in 1649. As already related, his grandfather had obtained a gift of the islands of Orkney and Shetland, in acknowledgment of the large sums of money which he had expended to support the Royalist cause. The ninth EARL had a new grant of these islands in 1662, but both the charters were objected to by the KING'S ADVOCATE, and the islands were conjoined to the Crown on 27th December, 1669. The EARL OF MORTON was married to LADY GRIZEL MIDDLETON, eldest daughter of JOHN, first EARL OF MIDDLETON, on 12th June, 1662, and had one son, CHARLES, LORD DALKEITH, who died, unmarried, before his father. The EARL survived till 1681, and as he left no issue, the title devolved upon his uncle, SIR JAMES DOUGLAS of Smithfield.
Note: There is confusion in the numbering of the earls.

See also The Earls of Morton