Perth, James Drummond, 4th earl of

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Perth, James Drummond, 4th earl of [S] (1648–1716). Perth, who inherited the title when he was 27, became James VII and II's chief adviser in Scotland. In 1682–4 he was justice-general [S] and from 1684 until 1688 chancellor [S]. He began as a presbyterian, moved to the Church of England, and as soon as James succeeded declared himself a catholic. His brother Lord Melfort was secretary of state [S] and governor of Edinburgh castle. Both men were given the Thistle in 1687. At the revolution, Perth tried to escape by boat, but was brought back to Kirkcaldy and imprisoned until 1693 at Stirling. He was then sent into exile. James created him duke of Perth in 1690 and he spent the rest of his life at Saint-Germain. His brother was made duke of Melfort in 1692. Perth's son, the 2nd Jacobite duke, fought at Sheriffmuir in 1715 and his grandson, the 3rd duke, at Culloden in 1746.

J. A. Cannon