William Douglas's Blog (602)

Grace Sholto Douglas (1940) is a large painting by the British artist and set designer Leslie Hurry, which depicts a woman positioned semi-seated with her left arm resting on a stone architectural feature.

Although it is unclear where Grace Sholto Douglas was painted, it is known that Hurry first met the sitter during a concert in the National Gallery, London, in 1940. The image…

William Crockford married Sarah Frances Douglas on 20th May 1812 by licence in the parish of St George, Hanover Square, London. He is registered as a bachelor and she as a spinster.

However, she was his second wife and he was previously married to Mary Lockwood, and by her had William (1799-); George (1802-69), Edward (1804-75); Mary Ann (1806-74) & Priscilla Eliza (1809-53).

Sarah Frances Douglas (1790-1865), 'a lady of refined manners and amiable…

I have been asked to help trace the Douglas family in Norfolk, East Anglia, particularly the name variants Dagles, Dagley, Daglis, Daglos, Duglasse.  As I have recently been working on the Palestinian variant Daghlas, this looked to be an interesting project.

And it is interesting and frustrating!

I have found a 15th century Richard Duglas, both Junior and…

One wonders why the boy in this family group should have been given so little space if he was wanted in the photograph!

The carte de viste was taken by Robert Douglas, Landscape & Portrait Photographer, The Vineyard, Top Whytes Causeway, Kirkcaldy, probably in the 1860s.

Robert is possibly the father of the Robert Douglas who ran the…

Two questions focus the minds of those who follow the fortunes of kilt-wearing Shoreditch hipsters. One, of course, is: 'What, if anything, do they wear underneath them?' The other, far more fascinating, is: 'Just who is Scott Douglas?'

Until 2010, the flamboyantly Caledonian Casanova was Tracey Emin's long-term other half. Inevitably, they met at The Golden Heart…

Visiting the Arctic Convoys memorial, in Wester Ross, I was reminded of the terrible conditions endured by both those in the protection warships, and those in the unarmed merchant ships carrying essential supplies to Russia.

About 1400 merchant ships delivered essential supplies to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program, escorted by ships of the Royal Navy,…

I was researching the author, W. Sholto Douglas (Cromwell's Scotch Campaigns 1650-51, et al) when I stumbled across the remarkable story of Walter Sholto Douglas.

My first discovery was that there was a marriage between Walter Sholto Douglas and Isabella Robinson, who married secondly Rev. William Falconer.  Was this my historical author?

Well, maybe not, although she (wait for it) was a writer.

Mary Diana Dods (1790–1830) was a Scottish writer of books, short…

Oxfam, the international confederation of charitable organizations focused on the alleviation of global poverty, runs bookshops in the UK to raise funds for the charity.

They have on sale, via ebay, a copy of A history of the house of Douglas from the earliest times down to the legislative union of England and Scotland by Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell. This 1903 two volume publication has…

Painting by Giuseppe Antonio Caccioli (1672 - 1740) representing Mario Scoto and Pope Leo III

In the spring of 774, during his subjugation of Italy,  king Charlemagne and Pope Adrian I decided to meet. With a small escort, amongst whom Mario Scoto was present, Charlemagne travelled the ancient via Cassia to Saint Peter's Basilica where he was received and…

COLONEL WALTER DOUGLAS (1670-1739) was a direct descendent of a branch of the Scottish Douglases, an ancient clan of noblemen that historian G. Harvey Johnston has called “a great and warlike family,” that “remained loyal to the crown.” From 1711-1715 Colonel Douglas served as Captain-General and Governor-General of the British-ruled Leeward Islands, an island chain located in the West Indies.…

Not a newly discovered Black Douglas jacket, but the racing silks of the American Blythswood Farm's stables, owned by a family of Douglas descent.

When the title 'Lord' Douglas' appears in an article in the Douglas Archives, for example in an extract from an old document, it may refer to any one of the following titles:

Marquess of Douglas, created 1633 in the Peerage of Scotland, now a subsidiary title of the Duke of Hamilton

Earl of Douglas, created 1356/7 in the Peerage of Scotland, forfeit in 1455

Lord Douglas, created 1475/6 in the Peerage of Scotland, a subsidiary title held by Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of…

A fascinating publication,  "The Household and Court of James VI of Scotland 1567-1603" by Amy L. Juhala who prepared it for her PhD at Edinburgh University, reveals Douglases who were members of the Royal Household.

Alexander Douglas was a "Macer, ordinary" in the Court of James VI.

There is also a George Douglas of Rungallie and a George Douglas, younger of…

I posted three images taken from a photograph album this evening (24 FEB 2017) which have been copied from an album which is being put up for sale.

The albumof photos from 1860-70 that can be of interest in illustrating relationships among the Douglas Hamilton and Pelham Clinton families, starting from Archibald XI Duke of Hamilton and his wife Amelie of Baden.

Right - Willian, 11th Duke of Hamilton with his daughter, LadyAnne…

Andrew Douglas has just posed an excellent article on the sacrifice of one Australian family in World War 1.

George and Mary Douglas lived in Sydney, and they had four boys; Gordon, Allan, George and Angus and possibly three daughters; Georgina, Elsie and Gladys. 

Andrew's first article tells the stoy of Allan.  …

DOUGLAS. Isabel Bridget - born 05.09.1922 . Special Operations Executive: Personnel Files (PF

Series). Collection: Records of Special Operations Executive. Date range: 01 January 1939 - 31

December 1946. Reference: HS 9/445. Subjects: Intelligence.

DOUGLAS. James Barrington - born 02.08.1914 . Special Operations Executive: Personnel Files (PF

Series). Collection: Records of Special Operations Executive. Date range: 01 January 1939 - 31

December 1946. Reference:…

John Douglas, the Bishop of Salisbury, was born on 14 July 1721. He was the son of a merchant in Pittenweem, Fife, and grandson of an Episcopalian clergyman in Saltoun, East Lothian. He was educated in Dunbar, East Lothian, until 1736 when he entered St. Mary's Hall, Oxford. In 1738 he was at Balliol, and 1740 he graduated with the degree of B.A. After a period abroad learning French, he was awarded the degree of M.A. in 1743. The following year, Douglas was ordained as a deacon and was…

It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the Clan Douglas Society of Australia is now formally open.

Attendees to the first general meeting are pictured left to right Mrs Anne Bruest, Mrs Janine Warren and Andrew Douglas.

There were a number of apologies from those unable to attend and the meeting was very kindly attended…