William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus


William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman and zealous supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Biography

Douglas was the eldest son of Sir Archibald Douglas of Glenbervie, Knt., by his spouse Agnes, daughter of William Keith, 3rd Earl Marischal, and upon the death of Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus without issue, William succeeded to that Earldom as heir-male, in 1588.
Sir Robert Douglas states that "Sir William Douglas of Glenbervie was a man of great honour and integrity, and a steady friend of Queen Mary. He accompanied her in her expedition to the north, and behaved with utmost fortitude and resolution at the fight of Corrichie anno 1562".
According to David Hume of Godscroft, Angus and Lord John Hamilton argued over precedence in the king's privy or outer chamber at Holyrood Palace. James VI came out of his bed chamber and made them reconcile. Meanwhile, Sir John Carmichael, Captain of the Guard, had made the palace secure, and Angus had to signal to his followers from a window that all was well.
The earldom was claimed by James VI, who brought a suit against Douglas, for reducing the charters connected with the title, but on 7 March 1589, a decision was given in favour of the latter.
He had two charters under The Great Seal of Scotland, from Queen Mary, of the lands and barony of Glenbervie, Kemnay, and several others.
Douglas died in July 1591, in his 59th year.

Family

The earl married Giles, daughter of Sir Robert Graham of Morphie, and had six sons and four daughters: