James Douglas, 1st Baronet (of Maxwell)

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Sir James Douglas, 1st Baronet (* 1703 in Roxburghshire , † November 2, 1787 ) was a British admiral and politician.

Life

James Douglas was born in 1703 to George Douglas († 1753), 7th Laird of Friarshaw in Roxburghshire, and his wife Elizabeth Scott , daughter of Sir Patrick Scott, 2nd Baronet († 1734). In 1753 Douglas married Helen Brisbane , daughter of Thomas Brisbane, Laird of Brisbane near Largs in Ayrshire , with whom he fathered seven children, four daughters and three sons. On October 16, 1759 Douglas was promoted to Knight Bachelor . After his wife died in 1766, Douglas married his second wife, Helen Boyle , daughter of John Boyle, 2nd Earl of Glasgow , in 1768 . This marriage remained childless. On June 27, 1786, Douglas was given the hereditary title of Baronet , of Maxwell in the County of Roxburgh. He died on November 2, 1787. He was squire of Springwood Park at Kelso in Roxburghshire, and St. Ola on Mainland Orkney . His son George Douglas (1754-1821) inherited his baronet title as 2nd baronet.

Military background

In 1715, Douglas joined the Royal Navy . In 1732 he was in the rank of first lieutenant in the sea and in 1744 in the rank of commander . In 1746 Douglas represented British interests as the Commodore of Newfoundland . In 1757 he was a member of the military tribunal that sentenced Admiral John Byng to death. Douglas supported the verdict and upheld his vote in front of the House of Lords . He received the knighthood as a Knight Bachelor on October 16, 1759 because of his participation in the conquest of Québec . Two years later, Douglas led the troops that took Dominica . As an officer under Rodney , Douglas was involved in the conquest of Martinique and under Pocock in the conquest of Havana . In 1762 Douglas was appointed Rear Admiral. Douglas was Commander-in-Chief of the Navy at Portsmouth between 1773 and 1776 , before finally being promoted to the rank of Admiral in 1782.

Political career

In the mid-18th century, the Orkney and Shetland archipelagos were owned by the Earls of Morton . In 1754, they installed Douglas to succeed James Halyburton as representative of the Orkney and Shetland constituency . Due to his military obligations, however, he rarely took part in the political events in the House of Commons . Although he was not present in the 1761 general election, Douglas was elected for another term. After the island groups passed into the possession of the Dundas family in 1766, Douglas was no longer elected in the 1768 elections. His successor was Thomas Dundas . Douglas then concentrated on his military career and did not run for political elections.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d DOUGLAS, James (1703-87), of Springwood Park, Roxburgh, and St. Olla, Orkney. at historyofparliamentonline.org
  2. ^ Baronetage: Douglas of Maxwell, Roxburgh at Leigh Rayment's Peerage
  3. ^ William Arthur Shaw: The Knights of England. Volume 2, Sherratt and Hughes, London 1906, p. 289.

Literature and web links

predecessor title successor
New title created Baronet, of Maxwell
1786-1787 		George Douglas
personal data
SURNAME Douglas, James, 1st Baronet
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Douglas, Sir James, 1st Baronet
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Scottish officer and politician, member of the House of Commons
DATE OF BIRTH 1703
PLACE OF BIRTH Roxburghshire
DATE OF DEATH November 2, 1787