Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch

His Grace
The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry
KG PC

The Duke of Buccleuch photographed by H. J. Whitlock c. 1860s
Lord Privy Seal
In office
2 February 1842 – 21 January 1846
Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, Bt
Preceded by The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
Succeeded by The Earl of Haddington
Lord President of the Council
In office
21 January 1846 – 6 July 1846
Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, Bt
Preceded by The Lord Wharncliffe
Succeeded by The Marquess of Lansdowne
Personal details
Born 25 November 1806
Palace of Dalkeith
Died 16 April 1884 (aged 77)
Bowhill, Selkirkshire
Nationality Scottish
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Lady Charlotte Thynne
Alma mater University of Cambridge

Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch, 7th Duke of Queensberry KG, PC (25 November 1806 – 16 April 1884), styled The Honourable Charles Montagu-Scott between 1806 and 1808, Lord Eskdail between 1808 and 1812 and Earl of Dalkeith between 1812 and 1819, was a British politician and nobleman.

Background and education

Buccleuch was born at Dalkeith House, Midlothian, Scotland, the fifth child of seven, and second son of Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch, and the Honourable Harriet Katherine Townshend, daughter of Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney and Elizabeth Powys. When his older brother, George Henry, died at the age of 10 from measles, Walter became heir apparent to the Dukedoms of Buccleuch and Queensberry. He was only thirteen when he succeeded his father to the Dukedoms of Buccleuch and Queensberry in 1819.[1] Through his grandmother, the 3rd Duchess, he also inherited the ancient northern English lordship of Bowland at this time. However, on his grandmother's death in 1827, the 5th Duke entailed the title upon his uncle, Henry James Montagu-Scott, 2nd Baron Montagu of Boughton. He was educated at Eton and St John's College, Cambridge (M.A., 1827).[2] In June 1833 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.[3]

Statue of Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch, 7th Duke of Queensberry on the Parliament Square in Edinburgh

Political career

A great Scottish land magnate, Buccleuch was a Conservative in politics, and was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1835 and a Privy Counsellor in 1842. He served as Lord Privy Seal from 1842 to 1846 and as Lord President of the Council from January to July 1846 in Peel's government, when he reluctantly supported Peel's decision to repeal the Corn Laws. After Peel's fall, the Duke's political career largely came to an end. In 1878 he became Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, a post he held until his death in 1884.

He joined the Canterbury Association on 20 May 1848. It was planned to build a town called Buccleuch in his honour near Alford Forest, but this did not eventuate.[4]

Family

Buccleuch married Lady Charlotte Anne Thynne, daughter of Thomas Thynne, 2nd Marquess of Bath and the Honourable Isabella Elizabeth Byng, on 13 August 1829 at St George's church, Hanover Square, London. The couple had four sons and three daughters:[5]

King George IV spent some days in 1822 as the Duke's guest at Dalkeith Palace, the first visit of a reigning Hanoverian monarch to Scotland. Twenty years later, Queen Victoria also honoured him with a visit. The family continued to hold a high profile in royal circles, being invited to the Coronations of William IV and Victoria, with the Duke acting as Gold Stick.

Death

Buccleuch died in Bowhill, Selkirkshire, in April 1884, aged 77, and was succeeded by his eldest son, William. He was buried in the family crypt of the Buccleuch Memorial Chapel in St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Dalkeith, Midlothian. The church is located on Dalkeith's High Street, at the entrance to Dalkeith Country Park.[6]

References

  1. ↑ K. D. Reynolds, ‘Scott, Walter Francis Montagu-Douglas-, fifth duke of Buccleuch and seventh duke of Queensberry (1806–1884)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2006, accessed 5 January 2009
  2. ↑ "Douglas, Montague Scott Walter Francis, 5th Duke of Buccleugh and Queensbury (DGLS806MS)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ↑ "Library and Archive Catalog". The Royal Society. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  4. ↑ Blain, Rev. Michael (2007). The Canterbury Association (1848–1852): A Study of Its Members’ Connections (PDF). Christchurch: Project Canterbury. pp. 62–63. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  5. ↑ The Peerage, entry for 5th Duke
  6. ↑ 1&1 WebsiteBuilder (30 October 2012). "Home – A WebsiteBuilder Website". Stmarysdalkeith.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
Political offices
Preceded by
The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos		 Lord Privy Seal
1842–1846 		Succeeded by
The Earl of Haddington
Preceded by
The Lord Wharncliffe		 Lord President of the Council
1846 		Succeeded by
The Marquess of Lansdowne
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Earl of Morton		 Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian
1828–1884 		Succeeded by
The Earl of Rosebery
Preceded by
The Marquess of Lothian		 Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire
1841–1884 		Succeeded by
The Duke of Roxburghe
Academic offices
Preceded by
Sir William Stirling-Maxwell		 Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
1878–1884 		Succeeded by
The Earl of Stair
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
Charles William Henry Montagu Scott		 Duke of Buccleuch
2nd creation
1819–1884 		Succeeded by
William Henry Walter Montagu Douglas Scott
Duke of Queensberry
1819–1884
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