William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus (15543 March 1611) was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of William Douglas, 9th Earl of Angus (1533–1591).
Career
Douglas studied at St. Andrews University and joined the household of the Earl of Morton. Subsequently, while visiting the French court, he became a Catholic, and was in consequence, upon his return, disinherited and placed under restraint.
Nevertheless, Douglas succeeded to his father's titles and estates in 1591, and though in 1592 he was disgraced for his complicity in Lord Bothwell's plot, he was soon liberated and performed useful services as the King's Lieutenant in the north of Scotland. In June 1592 he was injured falling from his horse while hunting with James VI and sent for drugs from the surgeon Gilbert Primrose.
In July 1592 he asked for help from Queen Elizabeth in a plot with the Earl of Erroll and other lords against John Maitland of Thirlestane, the Chancellor. Lord Maxwell accused him of misdemeanours including meeting the rebels James Douglas of Spott and the Countess of Bothwell. He protested his absolute rejection of Spanish offers, but in October he signed the Spanish Blanks. On the discovery of this treason he was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle on his return to Scotland in January 1593. They were offered an Act of "oblivion" or "abolition" provided they renounced their religion or quit Scotland. Declining these conditions they were declared traitors and "forfeited."
Angus, offended at the advancement of Huntly to a Marquessate, recanted, resisted all the arguments of the ministers to bring him to a "better mind," and was again excommunicated in 1608.
Quotation
From The Scottish Nation:
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Marriage and children
Douglas married Elizabeth Oliphant, a daughter of Laurence Oliphant, 4th Lord Oliphant, in spring 1585, and they had three sons and three daughters. His second son, James, was created Lord Mordington in 1641. His daughter Mary was married to Alexander Livingston, 2nd Earl of Linlithgow.
{| border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse;"
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!Name!!Birth!!Death!!Notes
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|William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas||1589||19 February 1659||Married 1st Lady Margaret Hamilton, 2nd, Lady Mary Gordon; had issue.
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|James Douglas, 1st Lord Mordington||1591||11 February 1656||Married Lady Anne Oliphant and Lady Elizabeth Hay; had issue.
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|Sir Francis Douglas of Sandilands||1593|| ||
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|Lady Catherine Douglas||1595|| ||Married Sir Andrew Kerr
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|Lady Mary Douglas||1597|| ||Married Alexander Livingston, 2nd Earl of Linlithgow; had issue.
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|Lady Elizabeth Douglas||1599|| ||Married Sir John Campbell
|}
Douglas was succeeded by his son William, as 11th earl of Angus, afterwards 1st marquess of Douglas (1580–1660). The title Earl of Angus is now held by the Duke of Hamilton, and is used as a courtesy title for the eldest son of the heir apparent to the current dukedom.