William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas

William Douglas
Earl of Douglas
Seal of William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas.
Tenure26 January 1358 – 1 May 1384
PredecessorNew Creation
SuccessorJames Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas
Other titlesEarl of Mar
Lord of Liddesdale
Bornc. 1323
Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Died1 May 1384 (aged 60–61)
Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Buried1384
Melrose Abbey[1]
NationalityScottish
ResidenceHermitage Castle
Tantallon Castle
Noble familyClan Douglas
Spouse(s)Margaret, Countess of Mar
IssueJames Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas
Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar
George Douglas, 1st Earl of Angus (illegitimate)
Lady Margaret Douglas (illegitimate)
ParentsSir Archibald Douglas
Beatrice de Lindsay

William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas (c. 1323 – 1 May 1384) was a Scottish nobleman, peer, magnate, and head of the Black Douglas family. Under his leadership, the Black Douglases continued their climb to pre-eminence in Scottish politics begun under his uncle, Sir James the Good, as well as their military dominance of the south of Scotland.

  1. ^ Maxwell, vol I, p.93