William Douglas's Blog (600)

Today, the Wikipedia community announced its decision to black out the English-language Wikipedia for 24 hours, worldwide, beginning at 05:00 UTC on Wednesday, January 18 (you can read the statement from the Wikimedia Foundation here). The blackout is a protest against proposed legislation in the United States — the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the…

At a time when Scottish independence is very much in the minds of Scots, It is timely to be reminded of the role played by James Douglas, Duke of Queensberry in the Union of 1707.

This book is the only biography of the "Union Duke". It fully explores the…

I have just received an email from someone whose name I do not recognise to tell me that "I've added you to our family tree on MyHeritage.com".

The odd thing is that I cannot find myself on the tree, and indeed can only find two Douglases out of 27,000 records.

Does anyone here understand how My Heritage works, and why I should have been added?

Congratulations to Martin Richard Douglas of Salford Quays, Greater Manchester,  General Manager, Cargill UK, who received an OBE for services to Industry in the North West.

We congratulate the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Denzil Douglas, who has been elevated by Her Majesty, the Queen to the position of Privy Councillor. He is entitled to be addressed as “the Right Honourable”.

General Sir Howard Douglas, 3rd Baronet of Carr, GCB, GCMG, FRS (January 23, 1776 – November 9, 1861) was a British military officer born in Gosport, England, the younger son of Admiral Sir Charles Douglas and Sarah Wood, and a descendant of the Earls of Morton. He was a British general and colonial administrator.

In 1797, while in Quebec City, Douglas fathered a daughter, Margaret (or Marguerite), but did not marry the mother, Catherine Normandeau. In 1799, he returned to England,…

Author and historian Alistair Moffat is leading a groundbreaking plan to test the DNA of thousands of Scots. The project, never attempted before, was launched this week in The Scotsman newspaper as part of a series on the origins of our nation.

It is hoped thousands of ordinary Scots will come forward to have their DNA tested. It does not matter whether you have been in Scotland for one week or your family has lived here for centuries – the testing process can reveal fascinating data.…

'Tis the season when many people purchase decorative conifer trees; otherwise they own some ersatz version thereof. No option exists in our household because we are of the most firm opinion that only a natural tree will do.

On an ecological basis cut conifers are grown as a crop and can be fully recycled. So here is your holiday conifer primer. 1.…

Cemeteries have long been a resource for genealogists, with Find a Grave as probably the most popular, with 71 million records, and around 2 million searches each day.

However, there is a new kid on the block, BillionGraves.com.

Find a Grave creates a sort of online memorial for deceased persons. Genealogical information can be gleaned from these memorials, but that isn’t…

The following has been posted on behalf of Ed Douglas

There is a small group of people who have expressed considerable curiosity about the origins and ancestry of William Douglas, commonly thought to have been born in 1610.  Most of you descend from William and have had the relationship confirmed through yDNA testing.  This “core” group consists of Betsey Howes, Marilynn Darling, Bob Green, Bill Hough, William Douglas (of the Douglas Archives), and me.  Besides this…

Private A. Douglas, of the 1st battalion The Cameronians was a soldier who fought in the 1st World War.

He survived to the last day, but was not to see the peace as he was killed in France just as the war ended, 93 years ago.

On Remembrance Day, let us remember him, and 19 other Douglas comrades who all gave their lives serving in The Cameronians, and the countless others serving on land, at sea and in the air.

I have today added the …

I have received an email discussing the Cavers lineage in connect to Violet, daughter of Thomas Douglas of Cavers.

But the question is how does this Thomas fit into the lineage, and who were his successors?

200,000 men from Glasgow enlisted into the army or navy during the 1st World War.

Almost 18,000 never returned; they lost their lives on land, sea or in a few cases, in the air. Of these, 401 served in the Canadian forces.181 in the Australian and 44 in New Zealand's forces. Two even served in the Egyptian Camel Corps. Amongst them are almost 40 members of the Douglas family.

The Roll of Honour was first collated in 1922. It has now been made available online. …

DOUGLAS 

Archibald Sholto Gordon, died on 29th October 2011, aged 74. Beloved brother of Ian, Veronica and Rosemary, cherished by all his family and his multitude of friends. Private cremation. All welcome at a Service of Thanksgiving for his life at 2pm on Thursday, 17th November at St Luke’s Church, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NH. Donations if desired to the Friends of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Charity No 1016883, 369 Fulham…

Controversial New Zealand MP Sir Roger Douglas has delivered his farewell speech at Parliament.

It is the second time he has left but this time the 73-year-old, who first entered Parliament in 1969, says he is off for good.

Douglas changed the face of the New Zealand economy as the Finance Minister under David Lange's Labour Government in the 1980s. His brand of…

The History of Parliament is a research project creating a comprehensive account of the parliamentary politics in England, then Britain, from their origins in the thirteenth century. Unparalleled in the comprehensiveness of its treatment, the History is generally regarded as one of the most ambitious, authoritative and well-researched projects in British history.

It consists of detailed studies of elections and electoral politics in each constituency, and of closely researched…

New book published this month; click the image to order.

David Douglas is another of those unfortunate people who are remembered for…

The clouds parted briefly to shine light on the newly unveiled statue of former Premier and 'father of Medicare', T.C. Douglas in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada, thanks to the generosity of an internationally renowned artist and the town that supported 'the Greatest Canadian' at the beginning of his political career.

Many dignitaries were in Weyburn on September 10 to…