George Douglas, 16th Earl of Morton
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Lord George Douglas, 16th Earl of Morton, Lord Aberdour, KT FRS FRSE FSA (3 April 1761 – 17 July 1827) was the son of Sholto Douglas, 15th Earl of Morton.
Life
He was the only son of Charles Sholto Douglas, and Katherine Hamilton. He succeeded to the title Earl of Morton in 1774 aged only thirteen, following the death of his father. He was sent to Eton College to be educated.[1] Following his education he conducted a DGrand Tour of Europe, as was the fashion of the day, and visited most of the European Courts.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in February 1785. His proposers were Daniel Rutherford, John Robison, and Alexander Keith. He served as vice-president of the Royal Society of London occasionally from 1795-1819, if Joseph Banks was unavailable. [2]
He served as a representative peer from 1784 to 1790 and as Queen's Chamberlain 1792 to 1818. He was also Lord Lieutenant of Fife from 1808 to 1824. He was also High Commissioner to the Church of Scotland.
In August 1791 he was made Baron Douglas of Loch Leven. Thereafter he took a seat in the House of Lords between Lord Howard de Walden and Lord Walsingham. He was knighted at St. James's Palace in 1797.
He died at the family estate of Dalmahoy House on 17 July 1827.[3]
Family
On 13 August 1814, he married Susan Elizabeth Buller (daughter of Sir Francis Buller). They had no children.
He was succeeded by his first cousin, George Sholto Douglas.
See also
- Lord Morton’s mare, once thought to demonstrate telegony.
References
- ↑ BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF FORMER FELLOWS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 1783 – 2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.
- ↑ "Library and Archive Catalogue". Royal Society. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ↑ The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle, (periodical) July to December 1827
| Masonic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Lord Napier |
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland 1790–1792 |
Succeeded by Marquess of Huntly |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by The Earl of Ailesbury |
Lord Chamberlain to Queen Charlotte 1792–1818 |
Succeeded by None (death of Queen Charlotte) |
| Preceded by The Earl of Erroll |
Lord High Commissioner 1819–1824 |
Succeeded by The Lord Forbes |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by The Earl of Crawford |
Lord Lieutenant of Fife 1808–1824 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Kellie |
| Preceded by The Marquess of Lothian |
Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian 1824–1827 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Buccleuch |
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
| Preceded by Sholto Douglas |
 Earl of Morton 1774–1827 |
Succeeded by George Douglas |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by New creation |
Baron Douglas of Lochleven 1791–1827 |
Succeeded by Title extinct |