James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife

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James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife (1729 – 1809) was a Scottish Earl, Baron and Minister of Parliament.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Birth 1.2 Politics 1.3 Nobility 1.4 Family 1.5 Agriculture 2 References

[edit] Biography

[edit] Birth

James Duff was born to William Duff, 1st Earl Fife, and Jean Grant (daughter of Sir James Grant of Pluscardine, Baron of Luss & Grant), on 29 September 1729.

[edit] Politics

In 1754 he became Member of Parliament for Banffshire, a position he held for 30 years until 1784. He gave the Banff town of Macduff its name, having changed it from Doune in 1783. He extended the town and built a harbour ensuring economic prosperity.[1]

He was then Member of Parliament for Elginshire from 1784 until 1790.

[edit] Nobility

He succeeded his Father as Earl of Fife in 1763, which he held until his death in 1809. He was created Baron Fife in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1790, a title which became extinct on his death. He was Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire from 1794 until his death.

[edit] Family

James Duff married Dorothea Sinclair in 1766. She bore him no children. However he had three children by his mother's personal maid, Margaret Adam of Keith, all of whom were born before his marriage to Sinclair.[2]

[edit] Agriculture

He did much for the improvement of agriculture and cattle-breeding.

[edit] References

• Gazetteer for Scotland Biography
• Stirnet Genealogy: Duff Family 02

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by James Abercromby	Member of Parliament for Banffshire 1754 – 1784	Succeeded by Sir James Duff
Preceded by Lord William Gordon	Member of Parliament for Elginshire 1784 – 1790	Succeeded by Lewis Alexander Grant
Honorary titles
Preceded by Unknown	Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire 1794 – 1809	Unknown Next known title holder: The Earl Fife
Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by William Duff	Earl Fife 1763 – 1809	Succeeded by Alexander Duff
Peerage of Great Britain
New creation	Baron Fife 1st creation 1790 – 1809	Extinct