Letters of Walter Francis Montague Douglas Scott (1806-1884), 5th Duke of Buccleuch and 7th Duke of Queensberry
- Reference:GB 237 Coll-823
- Dates of Creation:1828-1881
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English.
- Physical Description:5 letters, 1 document, 1 photograph. Access to records in a fragile condition may be restricted.
Scope and Content
The material is composed of: letter to Mr. Ramsay about a meeting, 1864; letter about alterations to a rectory, 1865; permit for William Scott Watson to shoot on the Buccleuch Estate at Hawick, 1880, and portrait of the Duke reproduced from a photograph by W. and D. Downey; letters (2) from Walter Francis, dated (possibly) 1828, and 1850; and letter by Tibbits on behalf of the Duchess.
Administrative / Biographical History
The Dukes of Buccleuch descend from Sir Richard le Scot (1249-1285) of Rankilburn and Murthockston, and from Sir Walter Scott of Branxholm, the latter of whom was granted lands in Selkirkshire by King James II in 1452. The Earldom dates from 1619 and the Dukedom from 1663 when Anne, daughter and heiress of the 2nd Earl of Buccleuch, married James Duke of Monmouth, the bastard son of Charles II. The title passed to their grandson Francis (1694-1751), 2nd Duke.
The 3rd Duke of Buccleuch succeeded to the Douglas Dukedom of Queensberry and married the daughter and heiress of the Duke of Montagu.
Walter Francis was the second son of Charles William Henry (1772-1819), 4th Duke of Buccleuch and 6th Duke of Queensberry. He was born on 25 November 1806 and succeeded to his title in 1819. He studied at St. John's College, Cambridge, from which he obtained an MA in 1827. Walter Francis married Lady Charlotte Anne Thynne, the youngest daughter of Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Bath, in 1829. The 5th Duke of Buccleuch was ADC to Queen Victoria, Captain-General of the Royal Company of Archers, Lord-Lieutenant and Sheriff Principal of Midlothian and Roxburgh, Honourable Colonel of the 3rd Battalion Royal Scots Lothian Regiment, High Steward of Westminster, and Chancellor of Glasgow University. He had also been Lord Privy Seal, 1842-1846, and Lord President of Council, 1846. He was responsible for the building of the pier and breakwater at Granton Harbour, Edinburgh, 1835-1842. Walter Francis Montague Douglas Scott (1806-1884), 5th Duke of Buccleuch and 7th Duke of Queensberry, died on 16 April 1884.
The present holder of the title is Walter Francis John Montague Douglas Scott (b. 1923), 9th Duke of Buccleuch and 11th Duke of Queensberry, who succeeded to the title from his father in 1973. His heir is Richard Walter John Montague Douglas Scott (b. 1954), Earl of Dalkeith.
Bowhill, dating mainly from 1812 and with garden and landscape designed by John Gilpen, has been the Scottish Borders home of the Dukes and Duchesses of Buccleuch. They also reside at Drumlanrig Castle in Nithsdale. Buccleuch Estates Ltd. is extensive with holdings also at Langholm, Dalkeith, Branxholm and including Broughton and Queensberry Estates.
Access Information
Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.
Acquisition Information
Material purchased among miscellaneous letters of Scottish interest, E. Hall, May 1976, Accession no. E76.21
Note
Note that when this record was created any associated photographic/illustrative was unseen.
The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) The dictionary of national biography. The concise dictionary. Part 1. 2nd edition, reprinted. London: Geoffrey Cumberlege, OUP, 1953. (2) Keay, John and Keay, Julia (eds.). Collins encyclopaedia of Scotland. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1994. (3) Burke, Sir Bernard. and Burke Ashworth P. A genealogical and heraldic history of the peerage and baronetage, the Privy Council, and knightage. 87th edition. London: Burke's Peerage Ltd., 1929. (4) Who's who 2003. London: A. and C. Black.
Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.
Other Finding Aids
Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.
Accruals
Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.
Related Material
The local Indexes shows other references to Walter Francis related material (check the Indexes for more details): letter to Sir William Bain, Granton Pier Office, 1847, at Gen. 863/8/7; letter written on behalf of by J. A. Stuart to D. Laing, 1877; and, mention in a letter of Alexander Pringle, 1835. In addition, the UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes several locations of Buccleuch (Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Walter Francis) related material.
Personal Names
Geographical Names