Earl of Wemyss

Earl of Wemyss (/ˈwiːmz/ WEEMZ) is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created in 1633. The Scottish Wemyss family had possessed the lands of Wemyss in Fife since the 12th century.^[2] Since 1823 the earldom has been held with the Earldom of March, created in 1697. The holder of the title is sometimes known as the Earl of Wemyss and March, but the titles are distinct.^[3]

Earldom of Wemyss held with Earldom of March since 1826
Quarterly: 1st & 4th argent, a fess, azure, within a double tressure, flory and counterflory, gules, for Charteris, 2nd and 3rd, Or, a lion rampant, gules, armed and langued azure, for Wemyss
Creation date	1633 (Earl of Wemyss) 1697 (Earl of March)
Created by	Charles I and William III
Peerage	Peerage of Scotland
First holder	John Wemyss, 1st Earl of Wemyss William Douglas, 1st Earl of March
Present holder	James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss and 9th Earl of March
Heir apparent	Richard Charteris, Lord Elcho
Remainder to	The 1st Earl's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Lord Elcho Lord Neidpath Viscount Peebles
Seat(s)	Gosford House
Former seat(s)	Amisfield House Neidpath Castle Elcho Castle
Motto	Je Pense ("I think")[1]

Neidpath Castle

History

For Earls of March before 1823, see Earl of March.

In 1625 John Wemyss was created a Baronet, of Wemyss in the County of Fife, in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. In 1628 he was raised to the Peerage of Scotland as Lord Wemyss of Elcho, and in 1633 he was further honoured when he was made Lord Elcho and Methel and Earl of Wemyss, also in the Peerage of Scotland. He later supported the Scottish parliament against Charles I, and died in 1649. He was succeeded by his son David, the second Earl.^[2]

In 1672 David resigned his peerages to the Crown in return for a new patent with original precedency and extending the limitation to his daughters. Lord Wemyss had no male issue and on his death in 1679 the baronetcy became extinct. He was succeeded in the peerages according to the new patent by his daughter Margaret, the third Countess of Wemyss. She married as her first husband her third cousin twice removed Sir James Wemyss, Lord Burntisland. He was the son of General Sir James Wemyss of Caskieberry, grandson of James Wemyss, younger brother of Sir John Wemyss, great-grandfather of the first Earl of Wemyss. She was succeeded by her son from her first marriage, David, the fourth Earl. He served as Lord High Admiral of Scotland and sat in the House of Lords as a Scottish representative peer from 1707 to 1710. Lord Wemyss married Lady Anne Douglas, daughter of William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry and sister of William Douglas, 1st Earl of March (see below).

On his death the titles passed to his second but eldest surviving son James, the fifth Earl. He married the great heiress Janet Charteris, daughter of Colonel Francis Charteris, who had made a large fortune by gambling and was noted for the rape of Anne Bond. Their eldest son David, Lord Elcho, was implicated in the Jacobite rising of 1745, and was consequently attainted.^[2] On his father's death in 1756 he was not allowed to succeed to the peerages, but nonetheless assumed the title of Earl of Wemyss. Lord Elcho died childless and the peerages would have but for the attainder devolved upon his younger brother Francis, the soi disant seventh Earl, who nevertheless assumed the title. He assumed the surname of Charteris in lieu of Wemyss on being made heir his maternal grandfather Colonel Charteris's estate. His successor was his grandson Francis, the soi disant eighth Earl (the son of Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho).

In 1790 the family commissioned a large townhouse at 64 Queen Street, Edinburgh, a bay wider than the already large adjacent townhouses.^[4]

Baron Wemyss Restoration Act 1826
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to restore Francis Baron Wemyss and others from the Effects of the Attainder of David Wemyss, commonly called Lord Elcho.
Citation	7 Geo. 4. c. 49

In 1810, upon the death of William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry and 3rd Earl of March, Francis Wemyss-Charteris succeeded as fourth Earl of March, fourth Viscount of Peebles and fourth Lord Douglas of Neidpath, Lyne and Munard as the lineal heir male of the aforementioned Lady Anne Douglas, sister of the first Earl of March (see below). On his accession to these titles he assumed the surname of Charteris-Wemyss-Douglas. In 1821 he was created Baron Wemyss, of Wemyss in the County of Fife, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. In 1826 he also obtained a reversal of the attainder of the earldom of Wemyss via the Baron Wemyss Restoration Act 1826 (7 Geo. 4. c. 49) and became the eighth Earl of Wemyss.

Elcho Castle

Townhouse at 64 Queen Street, Edinburgh

He was succeeded by his son, the ninth Earl of Wemyss and fifth Earl of March. He served as Lord-Lieutenant of Peeblesshire from 1853 to 1880. When he died the titles passed to his son, the tenth Earl. He represented Gloucestershire and Haddingtonshire in the House of Commons for many years. He was succeeded by his fifth but eldest surviving son, the eleventh Earl. He sat as Conservative Member of Parliament for Haddingtonshire and Ipswich and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Haddingtonshire from 1918 to 1937. As of 2014^[update] the titles are held by the thirteenth Earl of Wemyss and ninth Earl of March, who succeeded in 2008. He is also Chief of Clan Charteris.

Several other members of the Wemyss, later Charteris, family, have also gained distinction. William Wemyss (1760–1822), son of the Hon. James Wemyss (1726–1786), third son of the fifth Earl, was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. His elder son James Erskine Wemyss (1789–1854) was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy and the grandfather of Admiral of the Fleet Rosslyn Erskine-Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss (12 April 1864 – 24 May 1933), known as Sir Rosslyn Wemyss between 1916 and 1919. William Wemyss (1790–1852), younger son of the aforementioned William Wemyss, was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. William Binfield Wemyss (1810–1890), son of James Wemyss (1778–1849), younger son of the aforementioned the Hon. James Wemyss, was a General in the Army. The Hon. Frederick William Charteris (1833–1887), third son of the ninth Earl, was a captain in the Royal Navy. The Hon. Sir Evan Edward Charteris (1864–1940), sixth son of the tenth Earl, was a historian, biographer and barrister and notably published biographies of John Singer Sargent and of Edmund Gosse. The Hon. Martin Michael Charles Charteris, second son of the aforementioned Captain Hugo Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho, eldest son of the eleventh Earl, was private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II and was created a life peer as Baron Charteris of Amisfield in 1978. Hugo Charteris (1922–1970), grandson of the eleventh Earl, was a renowned post-war novelist and screenwriter. His son, Jamie Charteris, became a successful cartoonist.

The family seat is Gosford House near Longniddry, East Lothian. The family also owns Stanway House in Gloucestershire, Neidpath Castle near Peebles and Elcho Castle near Perth.

Earls of Wemyss (1633)

• John Wemyss, 1st Earl of Wemyss (died 1649)
• David Wemyss, 2nd Earl of Wemyss (1610–1679)
• Margaret Wemyss, 3rd Countess of Wemyss (1659–1705)
• David Wemyss, 4th Earl of Wemyss (c. 1678–1720)
• James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss (1699–1756)
• David Wemyss, soi disant 6th Earl of Wemyss (1721–1787) (attainted 1746)
• Francis Wemyss Charteris, soi disant 7th Earl of Wemyss (1723–1808)
• Francis Wemyss Charteris Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss, 4th Earl of March (1772–1853) (restored 1826)
• Francis Wemyss-Charteris, 9th Earl of Wemyss, 5th Earl of March (1795–1883)
• Francis Richard Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss, 6th Earl of March (1818–1914)
• Hugo Richard Charteris, 11th Earl of Wemyss, 7th Earl of March (1857–1937)
• (Francis) David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss, 8th Earl of March (1912–2008)
• James Donald Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss, 9th Earl of March (born 1948)

The heir apparent is his only son (Francis) Richard Charteris, Lord Elcho (born 1984), a lawyer.^[5]

Line of succession, simplified

James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss David Wemyss, (6th Earl of Wemyss) (1721–1787) Francis Charteris, (7th Earl of Wemyss). (1723–1808) Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho (1749–1808) Francis Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss, 4th Earl of March (1772–1853) Francis Wemyss-Charteris, 9th Earl of Wemyss, 5th Earl of March (1795–1883) Francis Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss, 6th Earl of March (1818–1914) Francis Charteris (1844–1870) Arthur Charteris (1846–1847) Alfred Charteris, (1847–1873) Hugo Charteris, 11th Earl of Wemyss, 7th Earl of March (1857–1937) Hugo Charteris, Lord Elcho (1884–1916) David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss, 8th Earl of March (1912–2008) Iain Charteris, Lord Elcho (1945–1954) James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss, 9th Earl of March (born 1948) (1). (Francis) Richard Charteris, Lord Elcho (born 1984) Martin Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield (1913–1999) (2). Hon. Andrew Charteris (born 1947) (3). Hon. Harold Charteris (born 1950) Hon. Guy Charteris (1886–1967) Hugo Charteris (1922–1970) (4). Jamie Charteris (born 1958) (5). Felix Charteris (born 1992) Frederick Charteris (1833–1887) Nigel Charteris (1878–1967) John Charteris (1914–2006) (6). Martin Charteris (born 1960) (7). Michael Charteris (born 1990) (8). Andrew Charteris (born 1992) David Charteris (1920–2007) (9) Nigel Charteris (born 1958) (10) James Charteris (born 1992) (11) Thomas Charteris (born 1998) Hon. James Wemyss (1726–1786) William Wemyss (1760–1822) James Erskine-Wemyss (1789–1854) James Erskine-Wemyss (1829–1864) Randolph Erskine-Wemyss (1858–1908) Michael Erskine-Wemyss (1888—1982) David Wemyss of that Ilk (1920–2005) (12). Michael Wemyss of that Ilk, younger (born 1947) (13). Charles Wemyss (born 1952) (14). James Michael Wemyss (born 1987) (15). Andrew Wemyss (born 1925) (16). Andrew Wemyss (born 1970) (17). Jonathan Wemyss (born 2004) Rosslyn Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss (1864–1933) 1–11 are in line for the Barony of Wemyss as well as the earldoms. [6]

Earls of March (1697)

• William Douglas, 1st Earl of March (c. 1665–1705)
• William Douglas, 2nd Earl of March (c. 1696–1731)
• William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry, 3rd Earl of March (1725–1810)
• Francis Wemyss Charteris Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss, 4th Earl of March (1772–1853)

See above for further succession

v t e Marquesses of Queensberry and Dukes of Buccleuch, Dover, Monmouth, and Queensberry

Lord Scott of Buccleuch, 1606 Walter Scott c. 1565–1611 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch Earl of Buccleuch and Lord Scott of Whitchester and Eskdaill, 1619 Viscount Drumlanrig and Lord Douglas of Hawick and Tibbers, 1628 Earl of Queensberry, 1633 Walter Scott c. 1606–1633 1st Earl of Buccleuch William Douglas (c. 1582 – c. 1639–1640) 1st Earl of Queensberry King Charles II 1630–1685 Francis Scott 1626–1651 2nd Earl of Buccleuch James Douglas d. 1671 2nd Earl of Queensberry William Douglas d. 1673 Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Doncaster, Duke of Buccleuch (1st creation) and Earl of Dalkeith, 1663 Duke of Buccleuch (2nd creation), 1663 Marquess of Queensberry and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar, 1682 Marquess of Dumfriesshire, 1683 Duke of Queensberry, 1684 Baronet Douglas of Kelhead, 1668 James Scott 1649–1685 Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Doncaster, Duke of Buccleuch and Earl of Dalkeith Anne Scott 1651–1732 1st Duchess of Buccleuch, 4th Countess of Buccleuch Mary Scott 1647–1661 3rd Countess of Buccleuch William Douglas 1637–1695 1st Duke of Queensberry, Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar, 3rd Earl of Queensberry Lady Catherine Douglas James Douglas 1639–1708 1st Baronet of Kelhead Dukedoms of Monmouth and Buccleuch (1st creation) and earldoms of Buccleuch and Doncaster forfeit, 1663 Duke of Dover and Marquess of Beverley, 1708 Earl of March, 1697 James Scott 1674–1705 styled Earl of Dalkeith James Douglas 1662–1711 2nd Duke of Queensberry, 1st Duke of Dover and Marquess of Beverley, 2nd Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar William Douglas d. 1705 Earl of March William Douglas d. 1733 2nd Baronet of Kelhead Earl of Doncaster restored, 1743 Earl of Solway, 1706 Francis Scott 1695–1751 2nd Duke of Buccleuch and Earl of Dalkeith, 2nd Earl of Doncaster Jane Douglas 1701–1729 James Douglas 1697–1715 3rd Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar Charles Douglas 1698–1778 3rd Duke of Queensberry, 2nd Duke of Dover and Marquess of Beverley, 4th Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar, Earl of Solway William Douglas 1696–1731 Earl of March John Douglas c. 1708–1778 3rd Baronet of Kelhead Excluded from succession to the dukedoms of Queensberry and Dover[7] Dukedom of Dover and Marquessate of Beverley, and earldom of Solway extinct, 1778 Francis Scott 1721–1750 styled Earl of Dalkeith Henry Douglas 1722–1754 styled Earl of Drumlanrig Charles Douglas 1726–1756 styled Earl of Drumlanrig William Douglas 1724–1810 4th Duke of Queensberry, 5th Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar, Earl of March Henry Scott 1746–1812 3rd Duke of Buccleuch and Earl of Dalkeith, 5th Duke of Queensberry William Douglas c. 1730–1783 4th Baronet of Kelhead George Scott 1768 styled Earl of Dalkeith Charles William Henry Montagu-Scott 1772–1819 4th Duke of Buccleuch and Earl of Dalkeith, 6th Duke of Queensberry Charles Douglas 1777–1837 6th Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar John Douglas 1779–1856 7th Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar George Henry Scott 1798–1808 Lord Scott of Whitchester Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott 1806–1884 5th Duke of Buccleuch and Earl of Dalkeith, 7th Duke of Queensberry Archibald William Douglas 1818–1858 8th Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar William Henry Walter Montagu Douglas Scott 1831–1914 6th Duke of Buccleuch and Earl of Dalkeith, 8th Duke of Queensberry Henry John Montagu-Scott 1832–1905 Baron Montagu of Beaulieu John Sholto Douglas 1844–1900 9th Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar Walter Henry Montagu Douglas Scott 1861–1886 styled Earl of Dalkeith John Charles Montagu Douglas Scott 1864–1935 7th Duke of Buccleuch and Earl of Dalkeith, 9th Duke of Queensberry Francis Archibald Douglas 1867–1894 styled Viscount Drumlanrig, Baron Kelhead Percy Sholto Douglas 1868–1920 10th Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott 1894–1973 8th Duke of Buccleuch and Earl of Dalkeith, 10th Duke of Queensberry Francis Archibald Kelhead Douglas 1898–1954 11th Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar Walter Francis John Montagu Douglas Scott 1923–2007 9th Duke of Buccleuch and Earl of Dalkeith, 11th Duke of Queensberry David Harrington Angus Douglas b. 1929 12th Marquess of Queensberry, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar Richard Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott b. 1954 10th Duke of Buccleuch and Earl of Dalkeith, 12th Duke of Queensberry Sholto Francis Guy Douglas b. 1967 styled Viscount Drumlanrig Lord Torquil Oberon Tobias Douglas b. 1978 Walter John Francis Montagu Douglas Scott b. 1984 styled Earl of Dalkeith Willoughby Ralph Montagu Douglas Scott b. 2016 Lord Eskdaill

See also

• Clan Charteris
• Duke of Queensberry
• Marquess of Queensberry
• Earl of March
• Earl of Ruglen
• Earl of Selkirk
• Baron Wester Wemyss

Notes

1. The Peerage of Scotland, Including the Dormant, Attainted and Extinct Titles ... Embellished with ... Engravings of All Their Armorial Bearings, Etc. P. Brown. 1834. pp. 115–116. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
2. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Wemyss, Earls of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 517.
3. "A masterpiece of timing". the Guardian. 25 November 1999. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
4. Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker
5. "Lord Elcho - Tatler". Archived from the original on 9 March 2012.
6. Morris, Susan; Bosberry-Scott, Wendy; Belfield, Gervase, eds. (2019). "Wemyss and March, Earl of". Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Vol. 1 (150th ed.). London: Debrett's Ltd. pp. 3548–3553. ISBN 978-1-999767-0-5-1.
7. James Douglas, 3rd Marquess of Queensberry, a homicidal maniac, was excluded from the line of succession to the Dukedoms of Queensberry and Dover when his father — the 2nd Duke of Queensberry — surrendered all of his titles except the Marquessate and its subsidiary titles back to the Crown and obtained a new grant with the same precedence for the surrendered titles that altered the succession to his second son and then the heirs male and female of the 1st Earl of Queensberry. The succession of the Marquessate continued in remainder to the heirs male of the 1st Earl of Queensberry.

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, ^{[page needed]}

External links

• Media related to Earls of Wemyss at Wikimedia Commons
• Gosford House from Gazetteer for Scotland
• The Independent obituary: The Earl of Wemyss and March Monday, 15 December 2008.