Monarch Queen Victoria Name Archibald 8th Died August 6, 1858 | Nationality British Party Conservative Party Political party Conservative | |
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Prime Minister The Earl of Aberdeen
The Viscount Palmerston Preceded by The Hon George Weld-Forester Children John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry Grandchildren Lord Alfred Douglas, Francis Douglas, Viscount Drumlanrig, Percy Douglas, 10th Marquess of Queensberry Great grandchildren Francis Douglas, 11th Marquess of Queensberry Similar People John Douglas - 9th Marq, Francis Douglas - Viscount, Lord Alfred Douglas | ||
Succeeded by Viscount Castlerosse | ||
Archibald William Douglas, 8th Marquess of Queensberry PC (18 April 1818 – 6 August 1858), styled Viscount Drumlanrig between 1837 and 1856, was a Scottish Conservative Party politician. He notably served as Comptroller of the Household between 1853 and 1856.
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Background
Douglas was the son of John Douglas, 7th Marquess of Queensberry, by Sarah Douglas, daughter of Major James Sholto Douglas. He became known by the courtesy title Viscount Drumlanrig when his father succeeded to the marquessate of Queensberry in 1837.
Cricket
He played first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1841.
Political career
Lord Drumlanrig was returned to parliament for Dumfriesshire in 1847. In early 1853 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Comptroller of the Household under Lord Aberdeen, a post he held until 1856, during the last year under the premiership of Lord Palmerston. In 1856 he also succeeded his father in the marquessate. However, as this was a Scottish peerage, it did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords. He stood down from the House of Commons in early 1857. Apart from his political career he was also Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfriesshire from 1850 to 1858.
Family
Lord Queensberry married Caroline Margaret Clayton (1821–1904), daughter of General Sir William Clayton, 5th Baronet, at Gretna Green, Scotland, in 1840. They had six children:
Lord Queensberry died while hunting in August 1858 aged forty, officially from the explosion of his gun. However, the event was widely believed to be a suicide. The Marchioness of Queensberry died in February 1904.