This page was last updated on 14 February 2023 Click here to  Print this page Biography finder A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Samuel Douglas

 

 

 

 

Samuel Douglas was the son of John Douglas, of Newron, a Galloway farmer, and his wife, Mary Heron.  Like his brothers, William, James and George, he made his fortune in America.  He also was a partner in the firm of Douglas & Shaw, merchants of No1 America Square, Minories, London.

 

William and Samuel set up cotton mills in Carlingwark, which was subsequently developed as a 'planned' town, and re-named Castle Douglas. They also established cotton mills in Newton Stewart, which was re-named Newton Douglas, though this reverted to its original name in 1826, when the mills were sold.

 

Samuel purchased Netherlaw, Dundrennan. He was a friend of Robert Burns' widow, Jean Armour.

 

He married Elizabeth Stevenson, daughter of Captain William Stevenson and Elizabeth Douglas, herself the daughter of William Douglas of Worcester.  Elizabeth (of Worcester) married 2ndly Samuel's brother, James.  Captain Stevenson ran the Douglas brothers' privateering operations off the American coast during the American War of Independence. 

 

Samuel died on 6th April 1824, aged 64 years and was interred in the Douglas Mausoleum.  His wife had died in 1796.

 

This portrait of Elizabeth, Lady Abercrombie, is by Henry Raeburn

Samuel's daughter, Elizabeth Stephenson Douglas, wife of Sir Robert John Abercrombie, 5th of Birkenbog

 

 

 

 

Note:

•  Sir James Shaw, when seventeen years old he went to America to join his brother David, who held a position in the commissariat service, and by his interest was placed in the commercial house of George and Samuel Douglas in New York Three years later he returned to Britain, and was made a junior member of the firm (Douglas & Shaw) in London in which he eventually became a full partner. Lord Mayor of London, be was created a Baronet of Kilmarnock, co. Ayr, and Polmadie, co. Kirkcudbright. He supported Jean Armour, Robert Burns's wife, after his death. Presumably a common friendship with Samuel.  William Douglas, MP for Plymton Erle is described as Sir James Shaw's nephew, but I am unable to trace the relationship.  He was the son of James Douglas of Orchardton and Elizabeth Douglas, daughter of William Douglas of Worcester

 

 

 

Any contributions will be gratefully accepted

 

 

Errors and Omissions		The Forum		What's new?
We are looking for your help to improve the accuracy of The Douglas Archives. If you spot errors, or omissions, then please do let us know Contributions Many articles are stubs which would benefit from re-writing. Can you help? Copyright You are not authorized to add this page or any images from this page to Ancestry.com (or its subsidiaries) or other fee-paying sites without our express permission and then, if given, only by including our copyright and a URL link to the web site.		If you have met a brick wall with your research, then posting a notice in the Douglas Archives Forum may be the answer. Or, it may help you find the answer! You may also be able to help others answer their queries. Visit the Douglas Archives Forum.   2 Minute Survey To provide feedback on the website, please take a couple of minutes to complete our survey.		We try to keep everyone up to date with new entries, via our What's New section on the home page. We also use the Community Network to keep researchers abreast of developments in the Douglas Archives. Help with costs Maintaining the three sections of the site has its costs.  Any contribution the defray them is very welcome Donate   Newsletter Our newsletter service has been temporarily withdrawn.