William Douglas
(4th Duke of Queensberry; 3rd Earl of March)

1724 - 1810

Philanderer. Born in Peebles, William Douglas succeeded his father to the Earldom of March (1731) and his cousin to the Dukedom of Queensberry (1778). Known as the 'Old Q', he had a reputation as a successful race-horse owner, gambler and philanderer. Douglas was a member of the notorious 'Hellfire Club'. He bathed in milk to 'maintain his potency' and paid his physician daily to ensure he was kept alive and healthy, with strict instructions that payment would stop on his death! He spent his twilight years observing young ladies from the balcony of his London home. All of these activities kept him from the family seat at Drumlanrig (Dumfries and Galloway), which declined in his absence. The Queensberry title and Drumlanrig passed to the Duke of Buccleuch on the death of the 'Old Q'.

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