Morton, James Douglas, 4th earl of
A Dictionary of British History
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2004
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© A Dictionary of British History 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information)
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Morton, James Douglas, 4th earl of [S] (
c. 1516–81). The position of regent to young James VI of Scotland was not an enviable one.
Moray, the first, was shot in 1570;
Lennox was stabbed in 1571;
Mar lasted a year before dying unexpectedly, with poison rumoured; Morton was the fourth and last, and had exercised effective power during the two previous regencies. After Mary's return from France in 1561, Morton played an increasingly important role, first as chancellor [S] 1562–6 and again 1567–73. He took a leading part in the murder of
Rizzio, an equivocal one in the murder of
Darnley, but in 1567 led the opposition to Mary and
Bothwell, defeating their supporters in 1568 at
Langside. He succeeded Mar as regent in 1572. His strong policy antagonized nobles and kirk alike, and in 1578 he was overthrown by
Atholl and
Argyll. Elizabeth's intervention afforded him a shaky return to office, though scarcely to power, until in 1580 he was charged with Darnley's murder and beheaded in 1581.
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James Douglas, 2d earl of Douglas and Mar
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
James Douglas, 2d earl of Douglas and Mar 1358?-1388, Scottish nobleman; son of William Douglas, 1st earl of Douglas and Mar. In 1373 he married Isabel Stuart...
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Archibald Douglas, 3d earl of Douglas
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
Archibald Douglas, 3d earl of Douglas 1328?-1400?, Scottish...illegitimate son of Sir James de Douglas, lord of Douglas. In 1361...In 1388, at the death of James Douglas, 2d earl of Douglas and Mar, he succeeded to the earldom...
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James Douglas Morton, 4th earl of
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
James Douglas Morton, 4th earl of d. 1581...of Archibald Douglas, 6th earl of...married Elizabeth Douglas, from whose...to the regent James Stuart, 1st...1st earl of Mar. His rule was...John Erskine, 2d earl of Mar...
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John Erskine Mar, 2d (or 7th) earl of
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
John Erskine Mar, 2d (or 7th) earl of 1558-1634, Scottish...1578 he was persuaded by James Douglas, 4th earl of Morton...James I of England). Mar emerged in control of...secret assistance to the 2d earl of Essex in his rebellion...
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