Earl of Dundee is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1660 for John Scrymgeour, 3rd Viscount Dudhope. At his death in 1668, Duke of Lauderdale declared that the first Earl had no heirs-male, and had the crown seize all of his lands. The earldom of Dundee became dormant and its holdings and offices were granted to Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale, the Duke's younger brother. The title was revived in 1953, when it was determined that the first Earl did indeed have heirs-male, contrary to the assertion of the crown. The title was given to Henry James Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, who had previously served in the House of Commons and in the Cabinet.
The Earl of Dundee holds the subsidiary titles: Viscount of Dudhope (created 1641), Lord Scrymgeour (created 1641), Lord Inverkeithing (created 1660) and Baron Glassary (created 1954). The first three titles are in the Peerage of Scotland and the Barony of Glassary is in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The eldest son and heir of the earl uses Viscount of Dudhope as his courtesy title. The family seat is Birkhill House near Cupar, Fife.
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Gules a Lion rampant Or armed and langued Azure holding in his dexter forepaw a Crooked Sword or Scimitar Argent; behind the shield in saltire two representations of the Royal Banner of Scotland, viz. a Lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a Double Tressure flory counterflory Gules, Ropes and Tassels of the last (as Bearer for the Sovereign of the Royal Banner of Scotland).
A Lion's Paw erased in bend Or holding a Crooked Sword or Scimitar Argent
On either side a Greyhound Argent collared Gules
Dissipate (Disperse)
In 1107 Sir Alexander Carron, nicknamed Schyrmeschur ("The Swordsman") for his deeds against the northern rebels, was granted the arms and name of Schyrmeschur by King Alexander I. He was also granted the office of Hereditary Royal Standard-Bearer of Scotland. This gave him the right to bear the Royal Standard in front of the monarch in procession or before the Army of Scotland in times of war. In 1298 Sir Alexander Schyrmeschur was awarded the office of Constable of Dundee.
In 1107 Sir Alexander Schyrmeschur was given the hereditary honor of carrying the Royal Standard. In 1676, Charles II granted Charles Maitland, Lord Haltoun "the office of bearing our insignia within our said realm of Scotland" by a charter of novodamus. After Lauderdale's death in 1691, the office of Standard-Bearer was not claimed by anyone until 1820, when Henry Scrymgeour-Wedderburn claimed the right to act as such an officer at the coronation of George IV. The Privy Council did not grant Scrymgeour-Wedderburn the authority to appear at the coronation (which was granted to the 8th Earl of Lauderdale). However, it did confirm his possession of the office of Standard-Bearer (which he exercised at Holyrood House in 1822). This was successfully confirmed by Henry Scrymgeour, de jure 10th Earl of Dundee, in 1902. In 1952, the Lord Lyon advised that the Earl of Lauderdale's right was to bear the saltire as the Bearer of the National Flag of Scotland, whereas the Earl of Dundee bears the lion rampant as the Bearer of the Royal Banner.
Sir Alexander Schyrmeschur, Hereditary Royal Standard Bearer, served as Standard Bearer for the army of Sir William Wallace, the Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland. As a reward for his gallant service he was granted the title of Constable of Dundee Castle as well as a grant of the nearby manor of Upper Dudhope. This title was originally granted as a lifetime honor but it was made hereditary by a Royal Charter granted by Robert I to his son Nicolas in 1324. It was declared dormant upon the death of John Scrymgeour, 1st Earl of Dundee and 13th Constable of Dundee, in 1668.
In the following list of the Earls of Dundee, the earls who claimed the title de jure (legally), but in fact did not hold it de facto (actually), are included.
The heir apparent is the present holder's son Henry David Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, 15th Lord Scrymgeour (b. 1982).
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son the Hon. Tassilo Scrymgeour-Wedderburn (b. 2005).