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Earl of Dalhousie, in the County of Midlothian, is a title in the
Peerage of Scotland The Peerage of Scotland ( gd, Moraireachd na h-Alba, sco, Peerage o Scotland) is one of the five divisions of peerages in the United Kingdom and for those peers created by the King of Scots before 1707. Following that year's Treaty of Unio ...
, held by the
Chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the bo ...
of
Clan Ramsay Clan Ramsay is a Lowland Scottish clan.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages ...
.


History

The family descends from Sir George Ramsay, who represented Kincardineshire in the
Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyr ...
in 1617. He received a charter of the barony of Dalhousie and also of the barony of Melrose on the resignation of
John Ramsay, 1st Earl of Holderness John Ramsay, 1st Earl of Holderness (c. 1580 – January 1626), known as Sir John Ramsay between 1600 and 1606, and as the Viscount of Haddington between 1606 and 1621, was an important Scottish aristocrat of the Jacobean era, best known in ...
. In 1618 he was raised to the Peerage of Scotland as Lord Ramsay of Melrose. However, as he did not like the title, he obtained a letter from
James VI James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...
in 1619 to change it to Lord Ramsay of Dalhousie (with the precedence of 1618). He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Lord. He sat as a member of the Scottish Parliament for Montrose in 1617 and 1621 and served as Sheriff Principal of
Edinburghshire Midlothian (; gd, Meadhan Lodainn) is a historic county, registration county, lieutenancy area and one of 32 council areas of Scotland used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-central Lowlands, bordering the City of Edinburgh, ...
. In 1633 he was created Lord Ramsay of Keringtoun and Earl of Dalhousie, in the County of Midlothian, in the Peerage of Scotland. His grandson, the third Earl (who succeeded his father in 1674), fought at the
Battle of Bothwell Brig A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
in 1679. His eldest son, the fourth Earl, was killed in a duel with a Mr Hamilton. He was unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fifth Earl. He was a
colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...
in the
Scots Guards The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the E ...
and
brigadier-general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed t ...
in the British Army and fought in the
War of the Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...
. He was succeeded by his first cousin once removed, the sixth Earl. He was the son of Captain the Hon. John Ramsay, second son of the first Earl. Lord Dalhousie's eldest son of George Ramsay, Lord Ramsay (died 1739), married Jean, daughter of the Hon. Harry Maule of Kelly, younger son of George Maule, 2nd Earl of Panmure, brother of James Maule, 4th Earl of Panmure, who took part in the
Jacobite Rebellion Jacobitism (; gd, Seumasachas, ; ga, Seacaibíteachas, ) was a political movement that supported the restoration of the senior line of the House of Stuart to the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, British throne. The name derives from the first name ...
of 1715 and was attainted in 1716 with his titles forfeited (see Earl of Panmure). Dalhousie was succeeded by his grandson, the seventh Earl. He was the eldest son of Lord Ramsay. He died unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother, the eighth Earl. He sat in the
House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminst ...
as a Scottish Representative Peer from 1774 to 1787. His second son the Hon.
William Ramsay Sir William Ramsay (; 2 October 1852 – 23 July 1916) was a Scottish chemist who discovered the noble gases and received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904 "in recognition of his services in the discovery of the inert gaseous element ...
succeeded to the Maule estates in 1784 and was created
Baron Panmure Baron Panmure, of Brechin and Navar in the County of Forfar, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The barony was created on 10 September 1831 for the Hon. William Maule, longtime Member of Parliament for Forfar. On the death of Wil ...
in 1831. Lord Dalhousie was succeeded by his eldest son, the ninth Earl. He was a distinguished soldier and served as Governor General of British North America and as Commander-in-Chief of India. In 1815 he was created Baron Dalhousie, of Dalhousie Castle in the County of Edinburgh, in the
Peerage of the United Kingdom The Peerage of the United Kingdom is one of the five Peerages in the United Kingdom. It comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Acts of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great ...
, which entitled him to an automatic seat in the House of Lords. He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, the tenth Earl. He was an influential
Tory A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. The ...
politician and also served as
Governor-General of India The Governor-General of India (1773–1950, from 1858 to 1947 the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, commonly shortened to Viceroy of India) was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom and after Indian independence in 1 ...
from 1847 to 1856. In 1849 he was created Marquess of Dalhousie, of Dalhousie Castle in the County of Edinburgh and of the Punjab, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Lord Dalhousie assumed the additional surname of Broun of Colstoun upon succeeding to the Colstoun estates. He had no male issue and on his death in 1860 the marquessate and barony of 1815 became extinct. He was succeeded in the Scottish titles by his first cousin Fox Maule, 2nd Baron Panmure, the eleventh Earl (see
Baron Panmure Baron Panmure, of Brechin and Navar in the County of Forfar, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The barony was created on 10 September 1831 for the Hon. William Maule, longtime Member of Parliament for Forfar. On the death of Wil ...
for earlier history of this branch of the family). He was a prominent Liberal politician and notably held office as
Secretary of State for War The Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, which existed from 1794 to 1801 and from 1854 to 1964. The Secretary of State for War headed the War Office and ...
. On succeeding to the earldom in 1860 he assumed the surname and arms of Ramsay of Dalhousie after that of Maule. Lord Dalhousie was childless and on his death in 1874 the barony of Panmure became extinct. He was succeeded in the Scottish titles by his first cousin, the twelfth Earl, who was the second son of the Hon. John Ramsay, fourth son of the eight Earl. Lord Dalhousie was an admiral in the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...
. In 1875, he was created Baron Ramsay, of Glenmark in the County of Forfar, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which entitled him to a seat in the House of Lords. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the thirteenth Earl. He was a Liberal politician and served under
William Ewart Gladstone William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-con ...
as
Secretary of State for Scotland The secretary of state for Scotland ( gd, Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba; sco, Secretar o State fir Scotland), also referred to as the Scottish secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the Unit ...
in 1886. His eldest son, the fourteenth Earl, was a captain in the
Scots Guards The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the E ...
and an honorary colonel in the North Scottish Royal Garrison Artillery (TA). He was succeeded by his eldest son, the fifteenth Earl. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Angus. He died unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother, the sixteenth Earl. He was a
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
before succeeding in the earldom and later served as
Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland The Governor-General of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (also known as the Central African Federation) served as the representative of the British monarch in the country. The federation was formed on 1 August 1953 from the former coloni ...
and was Chancellor of the University of Dundee. the titles are held by his eldest son, the seventeenth Earl, who succeeded in 1999. Lord Dalhousie is Chief of
Clan Ramsay Clan Ramsay is a Lowland Scottish clan.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages ...
. Several other members of the family have also gained distinction. The Hon. George Ramsay (died 1705), younger son of the second Earl, was a
lieutenant-general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
in the Army and served as commander-in-chief of the forces in Scotland in 1702. The aforementioned the Hon.
William Ramsay Sir William Ramsay (; 2 October 1852 – 23 July 1916) was a Scottish chemist who discovered the noble gases and received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904 "in recognition of his services in the discovery of the inert gaseous element ...
, second son of the eighth Earl, was created
Baron Panmure Baron Panmure, of Brechin and Navar in the County of Forfar, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The barony was created on 10 September 1831 for the Hon. William Maule, longtime Member of Parliament for Forfar. On the death of Wil ...
in 1831. The aforementioned the Hon. John Ramsay (1775–1842), fourth son of the eighth Earl, was a lieutenant-general in the service of the General Staff of India. He was the father of 1) William Ramsay (1804–1871), a
major-general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
in the
Bengal Army The Bengal Army was the army of the Bengal Presidency, one of the three presidencies of British India within the British Empire. The presidency armies, like the presidencies themselves, belonged to the East India Company (EIC) until the Gover ...
; 2) the twelfth Earl (see above); 3) James Ramsay (1808–1868), a major-general in the Bengal Army; and 4) the Hon. Sir Henry Ramsay (1816–1893), a general in the Bengal Army, whose grandson was the politician
Archibald Maule Ramsay Archibald is a masculine given name, composed of the Germanic elements '' erchan'' (with an original meaning of "genuine" or "precious") and ''bald'' meaning "bold". Medieval forms include Old High German and Anglo-Saxon . Erkanbald, bishop o ...
. The Hon. Charles Ramsay, fourth son of the twelfth Earl, represented
Forfar Forfar ( sco, Farfar, gd, Baile Fharfair) is the county town of Angus, Scotland and the administrative centre for Angus Council, with a new multi-million pound office complex located on the outskirts of the town. As of 2021, the town has a pop ...
in the
House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...
from 1894 to 1895. The Hon. Sir Patrick Ramsay (1879–1962), second son of the thirteenth Earl, was a diplomat and served as
Envoy Extraordinary Diplomatic rank is a system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. A diplomat's rank determines many ceremonial details, such as the order of precedence at official processions, table seatings ...
and
Minister Plenipotentiary An envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, usually known as a minister, was a diplomatic head of mission who was ranked below ambassador. A diplomatic mission headed by an envoy was known as a legation rather than an embassy. Under the ...
to
Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wi ...
,
Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Cr ...
and
Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...
. The Hon. Sir Alexander Ramsay, third son of the thirteenth Earl, was an admiral in the Royal Navy and served as
Fifth Sea Lord The Fifth Sea Lord was formerly one of the Naval Lords and members of the Board of Admiralty that controlled the Royal Navy. The post's incumbent had responsibility for naval aviation. History In 1805, for the first time, specific functions we ...
from 1938 to 1939. He was the husband of
Princess Patricia of Connaught Lady Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth Ramsay, (born Princess Patricia of Connaught; 17 March 1886 – 12 January 1974) was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Upon her marriage to Alexander Ramsay, she relinquished her title of a British pri ...
, youngest child of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught. Their son was Alexander Ramsay of Mar, husband of
Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun Marjorie Flora Fraser, 21st Lady SaltounIt has recently been determined that Margaret Abernethy succeeded her brother, Alexander Abernethy, 9th Lord Saltoun, in 1668, but only survived him by about 10 weeks and had not previously been counted ...
. The family seat is Brechin Castle near
Brechin Brechin (; gd, Breichin) is a city and former Royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin was described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese (which continues today ...
, Angus, which is currently put up for sale through the
Savills Savills plc is a British real estate services company based in London. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. History The business was established by Alfred Savill (1829–1905) in 1855 in London. B ...
real estate company. The other former seat, Dalhousie Castle, was sold in the late 20th century and is now a hotel. Until then it was said to be a property longer in one family than any other in Scotland. The title of the earldom is pronounced "Dal-''how''-sy".


Lords Ramsay of Dalhousie (1618)

* George Ramsay, 1st Lord Ramsay of Dalhousie (died before 1629) * William Ramsay, 2nd Lord Ramsay of Dalhousie (died 1672) (created Earl of Dalhousie in 1634)


Earls of Dalhousie (1633)

* William Ramsay, 1st Earl of Dalhousie (died 1672) * George Ramsay, 2nd Earl of Dalhousie (died 1674) * William Ramsay, 3rd Earl of Dalhousie (died 1682) * George Ramsay, 4th Earl of Dalhousie (died 1696) * William Ramsay, 5th Earl of Dalhousie (died 1710) * William Ramsay, 6th Earl of Dalhousie (c. 1660 – 1739) *
Charles Ramsay, 7th Earl of Dalhousie Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was " ...
(died 1764) *
George Ramsay, 8th Earl of Dalhousie George Ramsay, 8th Earl of Dalhousie (1730 – 15 November 1787) was a Scottish peer. He served as a Lord of Police (1775–82) and the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and was a representative Scottish pe ...
(died 1787) * George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie (1770–1838) * James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 10th Earl of Dalhousie (1812–1860) (created Marquess of Dalhousie in 1849)


Marquesses of Dalhousie (1849)

* James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie (1812–1860)


Earls of Dalhousie (1633; Reverted)

*
Fox Maule-Ramsay, 11th Earl of Dalhousie Fox Maule-Ramsay, 11th Earl of Dalhousie, (22 April 18016 July 1874), known as Fox Maule before 1852, as The Lord Panmure between 1852 and 1860, was a British politician. Ancestry Dalhousie was the eldest son of William Maule, 1st Baron Pa ...
(1801–1874) *
George Ramsay, 12th Earl of Dalhousie Admiral George Ramsay, 12th Earl of Dalhousie (26 April 1806 – 20 July 1880), known as George Ramsay until 1874, was a British naval officer. Career Ramsay was the son of Lieutenant-General the Honourable John Ramsay (1775–1842), fourth son ...
(1806–1880) *
John William Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie John William Maule Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie (29 January 1847 – 25 November 1887), styled Lord Ramsay between 1874 and 1880, was a Scottish naval commander, courtier and Liberal politician. He served as Secretary for Scotland in William E ...
(1847–1887) *
Arthur George Maule Ramsay, 14th Earl of Dalhousie Arthur George Maule Ramsay, 14th Earl of Dalhousie JP (4 September 1878 – 23 December 1928), styled Lord Ramsay between 1880 and 1887, was a Scottish peer and soldier. Early life Ramsay was born at Atkinson's Hotel, Torquay, Devon, the eldes ...
(1878–1928) * John Gilbert Ramsay, 15th Earl of Dalhousie (1904–1950) * Simon Ramsay, 16th Earl of Dalhousie (1914–1999) * James Hubert Ramsay, 17th Earl of Dalhousie (b. 1948) The
heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...
is the present holder's son, Simon David Ramsay, Lord Ramsay (b. 1981).
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, the Hon. William Fox Ramsay (b. 2017).


See also

*
Clan Ramsay Clan Ramsay is a Lowland Scottish clan.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages ...
* Earl of Panmure *
Baron Panmure Baron Panmure, of Brechin and Navar in the County of Forfar, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The barony was created on 10 September 1831 for the Hon. William Maule, longtime Member of Parliament for Forfar. On the death of Wil ...


Notes


References

* * Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, *


External links

*
Dalhousie Estates

Dalhousie Castle Hotel and Spa (hotel website)

Clan Ramsay

Colstoun House

Broun of Colstoun
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalhousie Earldoms in the Peerage of Scotland
Earl Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form ''jarl'', and meant " chieftain", particu ...
* Noble titles created in 1633 People associated with Angus, Scotland