Brigadier-General Archibald (Douglas), 2nd Earl of Forfar


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Archibald Douglas, second earl of Forfar (1692–1715), army officer, son of Archibald Douglas, first earl of Forfar (1653–1712), soldier and politician, and his second wife, Robina Lockhart (d. 1741), was born on 25 May 1692. In his early years he bore the courtesy title of Lord Wandell, and Queen Anne about 1704 granted him a yearly pension of £200 to assist his education. In 1712, on the death of his father, he succeeded as second earl. In the following year, though only twenty years of age, he was appointed colonel of the 3rd, or Buff, regiment of infantry. In 1714 he petitioned Anne for payment of arrears, both of his father's pension and his own, amounting together to £1400; he pointed out at the same time that in her majesty's service he had incurred a debt of about £3000. He was appointed envoy-extraordinary to Prussia in 1715 (credentials dated 14 July) but never took up his post.

In 1715 Forfar served as a brigadier-general in the army raised by the duke of Argyll for quelling the Jacobite rising in Scotland, and was present on 13 November at the indecisive combat at Sheriffmuir, where he fought bravely, but sustained wounds in 17 places that were to prove fatal. He was taken prisoner to Stirling, and died, aged 23, there on 8 December. He was buried in Bothwell church, where a monument was erected to his memory. As he died unmarried the title of earl of Forfar became extinct, and his estates passed to Archibald, first duke of Douglas.






Second creation


The Queen marked Prince Edward’s 55th birthday, March 2019, by granting him the historic title of the Earl of Forfar which he will use in Scotland.

The Earl of Wessex and his wife Sophie will be known as the Earl and Countess of Forfar when they are north of the border.

His new title was announced as the prince celebrated his 55th birthday on Sunday.

The royal family posted a tweet wishing him “a very happy birthday”.

The Earldom of Forfar was created in 1661 for Archibald Douglas (1653–1712), younger son of the 1st Earl of Ormonde. It became extinct as a title in 1715 when the second earl died leaving no children.

On 19 May 2018, it was announced that the title Earl of Dumbarton would be recreated in the Peerage of the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II as a subsidiary title for her grandson Prince Harry on the occasion of his wedding. Prince Harry, now the Duke of Sussex, and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are known as the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton in Scotland.

The Earldom of Dumbarton was created for George Douglas (1635–1692) and it too became extinct on the death of the 2nd Earl.

See also:
 Earl of Ormond

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