William Douglas

Who was William Douglas?

William Douglas of Almorness was an advocate and a British Member of Parliament in the House of Commons.

Probably born in New York in about 1784, he was the son of James Douglas of Orchardton and Elizabeth Douglas, daughter of William Douglas of Worcester. He was educated at Edinburgh High School and Trinity College, Cambridge.

He was called to the Scottish Bar in 1806. Alongside his uncle, Sir William Douglas of Castle Douglas, he was a partner in the Galloway Banking Co., established in Castle Douglas in 1806 and which ceased trading in 1821, because of a bad debt.

He was president of the Speculative Society between 1806 and 1809. An active Christian, he represented his parish as Ruling Elder at the Annual Meeting of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1811.

Having previously tried for Kirkcudbright, but been rejected, he was subsequently elected as member of Parliament for Plympton Erle from December 1812 to June 1816, during which time he is not known to have spoken, and has just seven recorded votes.

Involved in the design of the Douglas Mausoleum in Kelton, near Castle Douglas, he was interred there following his death on 9 July 1821, alongside other family members. He was unmarried.