BLAZON OF ARMS:
SHIELD: Quarterly: 1st & 4th Argent a man’s heart Gules imperially crowned Or on a chief Azure three mullets Argent (for Douglas); 2nd & 3rd Azure a bend between six crosses-crosslet fitchée Or (for Mar); for augmentation the escutcheon within a bordure Or charged with a double tressure flory counterflory Gules.
SOURCE, NOTES & CREDITS: The illustration of arms (for background) is from
The Wikipedia article. Information for the text was adapted from the same article.
Sir William Douglas 9th of Drumlanrig, was created Viscount of Drumlanrig in 1628 and Earl of Queensberry in 1633.
The 2nd Earl of Queensberry was James Douglas, son of the 1st earl.
The 3rd Earl of Queensberry and the son of James was William Douglas (1637-1695)
This William Douglas the 3rd Earl of Queensberry was made Marquess of Queensberry on 11 Feb 1682 and Duke of Queensberry on 3 Nov 1684.
James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry, in 1806 surrendered the dukedom in exchange for a regrant with a change of destination. His grandson, James 4th Duke of Queensberry, died unmarried in 1810, and the dukedom devolved on the Duke of Buccleuch. The marquessate of Queensberry was inherited by Sir Charles Douglas of Kelhead (descended from the 2nd Earl of Queensberry) who became 6th Marquess of Queensberry. He was succeeded by his brother John Douglas 7th Marquess of Queensberry and ancestor of subsequent marquesses. His most famous descendant was John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry (1844 –1900), a British nobleman of the Victorian era, remembered for his atheism, his outspoken views and for lending his name to the “Queensberry Rules” that form the basis of modern boxing, & for his role in the downfall of the Irishman Oscar Wilde, author and playwright.
The current holder of the Marquessate is David Harrington Angus Douglas the 12th Marquess of Queensberry (1929 – date ) who has an heir and a spare.
The artwork is an interpretation of John Hamilton Gaylor.
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