Dunbar Douglas, 4th Earl of Selkirk (December 1, 1722 - June 24, 1799) was a Scottish peer. Born Dunbar Hamilton, he was the grandson of Lord Basil Hamilton, younger brother to John Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Selkirk.[1]
He attended Glasgow University from 1739, being greatly influenced by Francis Hutcheson, Professor of Moral Philosophy. In 1745 he was granted the honorary Doctorate of Civil Law.
Selkirk was a supporter of the government during the Jacobite Rising of 1745. He was Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1766 to 1768. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Kirkcudbright and, from 1787, as a representative peer for Scotland.[2]
In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, Selkirk was the target of a raid by John Paul Jones, sailing in the service of the Continental Navy. Jones landed his ship, the Ranger on the shore of St Mary's Isle, intending to kidnap the Earl. Finding only the countess and her young family at home, his men made off instead with the silver of the household.[3]
In 1782, he became a member of the radical Society for Constitutional Information.[4]
Lord Selkirk had seven sons, six of whom predeceased him. The youngest, Thomas, succeeded him as 5th Earl of Selkirk.
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Hamilton |
Earl of Selkirk 1744–1799 |
Succeeded by Thomas Douglas |