Archibald Douglas, 8th Marquess of Queensberry

Archibald William Douglas, 8th Marquess of Queensberry PC (18 April 1818 – 6 August 1858), styled Viscount Drumlanrig between 1837 and 1856, was a Scottish Conservative Party politician. He notably served as Comptroller of the Household between 1853 and 1856.


The Marquess of Queensberry

Memorial to the 8th Marquess (2nd row, 2nd from left, styled 7th Marquis there) outside the Douglas Family Mausoleum, Cummertrees
Comptroller of the Household
In office
4 January 1853  25 July 1856
MonarchQueen Victoria
Prime MinisterThe Earl of Aberdeen
The Viscount Palmerston
Preceded byThe Hon George Weld-Forester
Succeeded byViscount Castlerosse
Personal details
Born18 April 1818
Died6 August 1858 (1858-08-07) (aged 40)
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)
(m. 1840)
Children
ParentsJohn Douglas, 7th Marquess of Queensberry
Sarah Douglas

Background

Douglas was the son of John Douglas, 7th Marquess of Queensberry, by Sarah Douglas, daughter of Major James Sholto Douglas. He became known by the courtesy title Viscount Drumlanrig when his father succeeded to the marquessate of Queensberry in 1837.[1]

Cricket

He played first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1841.[2]

Political career

Lord Drumlanrig was returned to parliament for Dumfriesshire in 1847.[3] In early 1853 he was sworn of the Privy Council[4] and appointed Comptroller of the Household under Lord Aberdeen,[5] a post he held until 1856, during the last year under the premiership of Lord Palmerston.[6] In 1856 he also succeeded his father in the marquessate. However, as this was a Scottish peerage, it did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords. He stood down from the House of Commons in early 1857.[3] Apart from his political career he was also Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfriesshire from 1850[7] to 1858.[8]

Family

Lord Queensberry married Caroline Margaret Clayton (1821–1904), daughter of General Sir William Clayton, 5th Baronet, at Gretna Green, Scotland, in 1840.[1] They had six children:

Lord Queensberry died while hunting in August 1858 aged forty, officially from the explosion of his gun.[1] However, the event was widely believed to be a suicide. The Marchioness of Queensberry died in February 1904.[1]

References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
John Hope-Johnstone
Member of Parliament for Dumfriesshire
1847–1857
Succeeded by
John Hope-Johnstone
Political offices
Preceded by
Hon. George Weld-Forester
Comptroller of the Household
1853–1856
Succeeded by
Viscount Castlerosse
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Marquess of Queensberry
Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfriesshire
1850–1858
Succeeded by
The Duke of Buccleuch
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
John Douglas
Marquess of Queensberry
1856–1858
Succeeded by
John Sholto Douglas

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