William Robert Keith Douglas

1. Politician and landowner, 4th son of Sir William Douglas, 4th Bart. of Kelhead. MP for Dumfries Burghs 1812-1832. Married Elizabeth Irvine, daughter of Walter Irvine of Tobago, 24/11/1824. Died at 16 Chesham Place, Belgrave Square, London, 15/12/1859.

2. Walter Irvine, William Robert Keith Douglas's father-in-law is in Rubinstein [1824/4] of Luddington House Egham Surrey, died 7 January 1824, left £120,000.

3. 'A London merchant at least 1820' and an active member of the West India lobby. The destination of the wealth of his father-in-law has not yet been traced.

4. Will proved 20/03/1860 detailed effects in Scotland, England, and 'certain effects in the Island of Tobago in the West Indies for which probate will be taken out in the Island.'

5. Of the 'Douglases of Grangemuir', his wife Elizabeth having inherited Grangemuir House from his father-in-law Walter Irvine in 1824.

1. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/douglas-william-1783-1859 [accessed 20/12/2012].

2. William D. Rubinstein, Who were the rich? A biographical dictionary of British wealth-holders Volume One 1809-1839 (London, Social Affairs Unit, 2009).

3. Margaret Escott, 'Douglas, William Robert Keith (1783-1859), of the Albany, Piccadilly Mdx.', History of Parliament Online.

4. Scotland's People. 1860 Douglas, William Robert Keith (Wills and testaments Reference SC20/50/31, Cupar Sheriff Court).

5. Scottish Jurist: Containing Reports of Cases Decided in the House of Lords, Courts of Session, Teinds, and Exchequer, and the Jury and Justiciary Courts (Michael Anderson, 1838) p. 521.

We are grateful to Ruth Wright for help in compiling this entry.