Earl of March is a title that has been created several times, respectively, in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of England. The title derives from the "marches" or borderlands between England and either Wales (Welsh Marches) or Scotland (Scottish Marches), and it was held by several great feudal families which owned lands in those districts. Later, however, the title came to be granted as an honorary dignity, and ceased to carry any associated power in the marches.

The Scottish earldom is extant in its own right, and it is held by James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss and 9th Earl of March.

The English earldom is today the main non-ducal subsidiary title of the Duke of Richmond. The current duke's eldest son, named Charles like his father, enjoys it as a courtesy title.

Earls of March in the Peerage of Scotland

The Earls of March on the Scottish border were descended from Gospatric, Earl of Northumbria, but being soon afterwards deprived of this position he fled to Scotland, where Máel Coluim III, King of Scotland, welcomed him and granted him Dunbar and the adjoining lands. His successors controlled the Marches, but Earl of March was only assumed as an alternative title to that of Earl of Dunbar by Patrick de Dunbar, 8th Earl of March. The last of his successors was George de Dunbar, 11th Earl of March and Dunbar, whose honours and lands were forfeited to the Crown. He retired to England and died in obscurity.

Following his forfeiture, the next creation of the Earldom of March was for Alexander Stuart, Duke of Albany. At the death of his successor John, the dukedom and earldom became extinct. The next creation was for Robert Stuart, but at his death, the earldom again became extinct.

The most recent Scottish creation of the Earldom of March was in 1697 for Lord William Douglas, second son of the William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry. He was also created Lord Douglas of Neidpath, Lyne and Munard, and Viscount of Peebles, with remainder to heirs male of his body, failing which to his other heirs male and of tailzie. He was succeeded by his son, also William, who married Anne Douglas-Hamilton, 2nd Countess of Ruglen. They were both succeeded by their son, another William, who became 3rd Earl of March and 3rd Earl of Ruglen.

In 1768 the third earl was created Baron Douglas of Amesbury, and in 1778 he succeeded his first cousin twice removed, Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry, as fourth Duke of Queensberry. The duke died childless in 1810, however, and his titles were inherited by several different individuals. The earldom of Ruglen and barony of Douglas of Amesbury became extinct. The dukedom of Queensberry was inherited by his second cousin once removed, Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch (see the Duke of Buccleuch for later history of this title). The marquessate and earldom of Queensberry passed to his kinsman Sir Charles Douglas, 5th Baronet (see the Marquess of Queensberry for later history of these titles). The earldom of March and its two subsidiary titles were inherited by his second cousin once removed Francis Wemyss-Charteris, later the eighth Earl of Wemyss.

Scottish Earls of March, first Creation

See Earl of Dunbar, for which "Earl of the March" is used as an alternate title

Scottish Earls of March, second Creation (1455)

Scottish Earls of March, third Creation (1581)

With subsidiary title Lord (of) Dunbar (1581)

Scottish Earls of March, fourth Creation (1697)

With subsidiary titles of Lord Douglas of Neidpath, Lyne and Munard, and Viscount of Peebles

See Earl of Wemyss and March for later holders of the title.

vteMarquesses of Queensberry and Dukes of Buccleuch, Dover, Monmouth, and Queensberry
Lord Scott of Buccleuch, 1606 Walter Scott c.1565–1611 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch Earl of Buccleuch and Lord Scott of Whitchester and Eskdaill, 1619Viscount Drumlanrig and Lord Douglas of Hawick and Tibbers, 1628 Earl of Queensberry, 1633 Walter Scott c.1606–1633 1st Earl of BuccleuchWilliam Douglas c.1582– c.1639–1640 1st Earl of Queensberry, etc. King Charles II 1630–1685Francis Scott 1626–1651 2nd Earl of BuccleuchJames Douglas d.1671 2nd Earl of Queensberry, etc.William Douglas d.1673 Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Doncaster, Duke of Buccleuch (1st creation) and Earl of Dalkeith, 1663Duke of Buccleuch (2nd creation), 1663Marquess of Queensberry and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar, 1682 Marquess of Dumfriesshire, 1683 Duke of Queensberry, 1684Baronet, of Kelhead, 1668 James Scott 1649–1685 Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Doncaster, Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Anne Scott 1651–1732 1st Duchess of Buccleuch, 4th Countess of BuccleuchMary Scott 1647–1661 3rd Countess of BuccleuchWilliam Douglas 1637–1695 1st Duke of Queensberry, 1st Marquess of Queensberry, etc., 3rd Earl of Queensberry, etc.Catherine DouglasJames Douglas 1639–1708 1st Baronet of Kelhead Dukedoms of Monmouth and Buccleuch (1st creation) and earldoms of Buccleuch and Doncaster forfeit, 1663 Duke of Dover and Marquess of Beverley, 1708Earl of March (Scotland, 4th creation), Viscount of Peebles, and Lord Douglas of Neidpath, Lyne and Munard, 1697 James Scott 1674–1705 styled Earl of DalkeithJames Douglas 1662–1711 2nd Duke of Queensberry, 1st Duke of Dover, etc., 2nd Marquess of Queensberry, etc.William Douglas 1673–1705 1st Earl of March, etc.Anne Douglas d.1700William Douglas d.1733 2nd Baronet of Kelhead Earl of Doncaster restored, 1743Earl of Solway, Viscount of Tiberris, Lord Douglas of Lockerbie, Dalveen and Thornhill, 1706 Francis Scott 1695–1751 2nd Duke of Buccleuch, etc. 2nd Earl of DoncasterJane Douglas 1701–1729James Douglas 1697–1715 3rd Marquess of Queensberry, etc.Charles Douglas 1698–1778 3rd Duke of Queensberry, 2nd Duke of Dover, etc., 4th Marquess of Queensberry, etc., Earl of Solway, etc.William Douglas 1696–1731 2nd Earl of March, etc.James Wemyss 1699–1756 Earl of Wemyss, etc.John Douglas c.1708–1778 3rd Baronet of Kelhead Excluded from succession to the dukedoms of Queensberry and DoverDukedom of Dover, marquessate of Beverley, and earldom of Solway extinct, 1778 Francis Scott 1721–1750 styled Earl of DalkeithHenry Douglas 1722–1754 styled Earl of DrumlanrigCharles Douglas 1726–1756 styled Earl of DrumlanrigWilliam Douglas 1724–1810 4th Duke of Queensberry, 5th Marquess of Queensberry, etc., 3rd Earl of March, etc., Earl of Ruglen, etc.Francis Wemyss-Charteris 1723–1808 Earl of Wemyss Henry Scott 1746–1812 5th Duke of Queensberry 3rd Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Francis Charteris 1749–1808 styled Lord ElchoWilliam Douglas c.1730–1783 4th Baronet of Kelhead Baron Wemyss, 1821 George Scott 1768 styled Earl of DalkeithCharles William Henry Montagu-Scott 1772–1819 6th Duke of Queensberry 4th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Francis Douglas 1772–1853 Earl of Wemyss, 1st Baron Wemyss, 4th Earl of MarchCharles Douglas 1777–1837 6th Marquess of Queensberry, etc.John Douglas 1779–1856 7th Marquess of Queensberry, etc. George Henry Scott 1798–1808 Lord Scott of WhitchesterWalter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott 1806–1884 7th Duke of Queensberry 5th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Archibald William Douglas 1818–1858 8th Marquess of Queensberry, etc. Baron Montagu of Beaulieu (UK), 1885 William Henry Walter Montagu Douglas Scott 1831–1914 8th Duke of Queensberry 6th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Henry John Montagu-Scott 1832–1905 1st Baron Montagu of BeaulieuJohn Sholto Douglas 1844–1900 9th Marquess of Queensberry, etc. Baron Kelhead (UK), 1893 Walter Henry Montagu Douglas Scott 1861–1886 styled Earl of DalkeithJohn Charles Montagu Douglas Scott 1864–1935 9th Duke of Queensberry 7th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu 1866–1929 2nd Baron Montagu of BeaulieuFrancis Archibald Douglas 1867–1894 styled Viscount Drumlanrig, Baron KelheadPercy Sholto Douglas 1868–1920 10th Marquess of Queensberry, etc. Barony Kelhead extinct, 1894 Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott 1894–1973 10th Duke of Queensberry 8th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Francis Archibald Kelhead Douglas 1898–1954 11th Marquess of Queensberry, etc. Walter Francis John Montagu Douglas Scott 1923–2007 11th Duke of Queensberry 9th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Edward John Barrington Douglas-Scott-Montagu 1926–2015 3rd Baron Montagu of BeaulieuDavid Harrington Angus Douglas b.1929 12th Marquess of Queensberry, etc. Richard Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott b.1954 12th Duke of Queensberry 10th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Ralph Douglas-Scott-Montagu b.1961 4th Baron Montagu of BeaulieuJonathan Deane Montagu-Scott b.11 October 1975Sholto Francis Guy Douglas b.1967 styled Viscount DrumlanrigLord Torquil Oberon Tobias Douglas b.1978 Heir presumptive to the Barony of Montagu of Beaulieu Walter John Francis Montagu Douglas Scott b.1984 styled Earl of Dalkeith Willoughby Ralph Montagu Douglas Scott b.2016 Lord Eskdaill
Lord Scott of Buccleuch, 1606
Walter Scott c.1565–1611 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch
Earl of Buccleuch and Lord Scott of Whitchester and Eskdaill, 1619Viscount Drumlanrig and Lord Douglas of Hawick and Tibbers, 1628 Earl of Queensberry, 1633
Walter Scott c.1606–1633 1st Earl of BuccleuchWilliam Douglas c.1582– c.1639–1640 1st Earl of Queensberry, etc.
King Charles II 1630–1685Francis Scott 1626–1651 2nd Earl of BuccleuchJames Douglas d.1671 2nd Earl of Queensberry, etc.William Douglas d.1673
Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Doncaster, Duke of Buccleuch (1st creation) and Earl of Dalkeith, 1663Duke of Buccleuch (2nd creation), 1663Marquess of Queensberry and Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar, 1682 Marquess of Dumfriesshire, 1683 Duke of Queensberry, 1684Baronet, of Kelhead, 1668
James Scott 1649–1685 Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Doncaster, Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Anne Scott 1651–1732 1st Duchess of Buccleuch, 4th Countess of BuccleuchMary Scott 1647–1661 3rd Countess of BuccleuchWilliam Douglas 1637–1695 1st Duke of Queensberry, 1st Marquess of Queensberry, etc., 3rd Earl of Queensberry, etc.Catherine DouglasJames Douglas 1639–1708 1st Baronet of Kelhead
Dukedoms of Monmouth and Buccleuch (1st creation) and earldoms of Buccleuch and Doncaster forfeit, 1663
Duke of Dover and Marquess of Beverley, 1708Earl of March (Scotland, 4th creation), Viscount of Peebles, and Lord Douglas of Neidpath, Lyne and Munard, 1697
James Scott 1674–1705 styled Earl of DalkeithJames Douglas 1662–1711 2nd Duke of Queensberry, 1st Duke of Dover, etc., 2nd Marquess of Queensberry, etc.William Douglas 1673–1705 1st Earl of March, etc.Anne Douglas d.1700William Douglas d.1733 2nd Baronet of Kelhead
Earl of Doncaster restored, 1743Earl of Solway, Viscount of Tiberris, Lord Douglas of Lockerbie, Dalveen and Thornhill, 1706
Francis Scott 1695–1751 2nd Duke of Buccleuch, etc. 2nd Earl of DoncasterJane Douglas 1701–1729James Douglas 1697–1715 3rd Marquess of Queensberry, etc.Charles Douglas 1698–1778 3rd Duke of Queensberry, 2nd Duke of Dover, etc., 4th Marquess of Queensberry, etc., Earl of Solway, etc.William Douglas 1696–1731 2nd Earl of March, etc.James Wemyss 1699–1756 Earl of Wemyss, etc.John Douglas c.1708–1778 3rd Baronet of Kelhead
Excluded from succession to the dukedoms of Queensberry and DoverDukedom of Dover, marquessate of Beverley, and earldom of Solway extinct, 1778
Francis Scott 1721–1750 styled Earl of DalkeithHenry Douglas 1722–1754 styled Earl of DrumlanrigCharles Douglas 1726–1756 styled Earl of DrumlanrigWilliam Douglas 1724–1810 4th Duke of Queensberry, 5th Marquess of Queensberry, etc., 3rd Earl of March, etc., Earl of Ruglen, etc.Francis Wemyss-Charteris 1723–1808 Earl of Wemyss
Henry Scott 1746–1812 5th Duke of Queensberry 3rd Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Francis Charteris 1749–1808 styled Lord ElchoWilliam Douglas c.1730–1783 4th Baronet of Kelhead
Baron Wemyss, 1821
George Scott 1768 styled Earl of DalkeithCharles William Henry Montagu-Scott 1772–1819 6th Duke of Queensberry 4th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Francis Douglas 1772–1853 Earl of Wemyss, 1st Baron Wemyss, 4th Earl of MarchCharles Douglas 1777–1837 6th Marquess of Queensberry, etc.John Douglas 1779–1856 7th Marquess of Queensberry, etc.
George Henry Scott 1798–1808 Lord Scott of WhitchesterWalter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott 1806–1884 7th Duke of Queensberry 5th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Archibald William Douglas 1818–1858 8th Marquess of Queensberry, etc.
Baron Montagu of Beaulieu (UK), 1885
William Henry Walter Montagu Douglas Scott 1831–1914 8th Duke of Queensberry 6th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Henry John Montagu-Scott 1832–1905 1st Baron Montagu of BeaulieuJohn Sholto Douglas 1844–1900 9th Marquess of Queensberry, etc.
Baron Kelhead (UK), 1893
Walter Henry Montagu Douglas Scott 1861–1886 styled Earl of DalkeithJohn Charles Montagu Douglas Scott 1864–1935 9th Duke of Queensberry 7th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu 1866–1929 2nd Baron Montagu of BeaulieuFrancis Archibald Douglas 1867–1894 styled Viscount Drumlanrig, Baron KelheadPercy Sholto Douglas 1868–1920 10th Marquess of Queensberry, etc.
Barony Kelhead extinct, 1894
Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott 1894–1973 10th Duke of Queensberry 8th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Francis Archibald Kelhead Douglas 1898–1954 11th Marquess of Queensberry, etc.
Walter Francis John Montagu Douglas Scott 1923–2007 11th Duke of Queensberry 9th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Edward John Barrington Douglas-Scott-Montagu 1926–2015 3rd Baron Montagu of BeaulieuDavid Harrington Angus Douglas b.1929 12th Marquess of Queensberry, etc.
Richard Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott b.1954 12th Duke of Queensberry 10th Duke of Buccleuch, etc.Ralph Douglas-Scott-Montagu b.1961 4th Baron Montagu of BeaulieuJonathan Deane Montagu-Scott b.11 October 1975Sholto Francis Guy Douglas b.1967 styled Viscount DrumlanrigLord Torquil Oberon Tobias Douglas b.1978
Heir presumptive to the Barony of Montagu of Beaulieu
Walter John Francis Montagu Douglas Scott b.1984 styled Earl of Dalkeith
Willoughby Ralph Montagu Douglas Scott b.2016 Lord Eskdaill

Earls of March in the Peerage of England

The Earls of March on the Welsh Marches were descended from Roger Mortimer, as there had been no single office in this region since the Earl of Mercia. He forfeited his title, which was in the Peerage of England, for treason in 1330, but his grandson Roger managed to have it restored eighteen years later. With the death of the fifth Earl, however, there remained no more Mortimers who were heirs to the first Earl, and the title passed to the fifth earl's nephew, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. Duke Richard passed the title on to his son Edward, who would later become King Edward IV, causing the earldom of March to merge into the Crown.

In the Peerage of England, the next creation of the earldom came when Edward Plantagenet, Duke of Cornwall was made Earl of March in 1479. In 1483, he succeeded as King Edward V, and the earldom merged in the crown. Later that year, however, his uncle Richard of Gloucester usurped the throne as Richard III.

The next English creation was in favour of Esme Stewart, the third Duke of Lennox. His successors bore the earldom, until the death of the sixth Duke, when both the earldom and the dukedom became extinct. The last English creation was in favour of Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond and Lennox. His successors have borne the English earldom of March since then.

English Earls of March, first Creation (1328)

English Earls of March, second Creation (1479)

English Earls of March, third Creation (1619)

English Earls of March, fourth Creation (1675)

  • The title is now held by the Duke of Richmond, and is used as a courtesy title by his heir apparent, currently Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox (born 1994), Earl of March and Kinrara.

See also