James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Morton
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Portrait of Douglas with his family by Jeremiah Davison, 1740
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| 16th President of the Royal Society | |
| In office 1764–1768 |
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| Preceded by | George Parker |
| Succeeded by | James Burrow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1702 Edinburgh, Scotland, UK |
| Died | 12 October 1768 (aged 65–66) |
James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton, KT, FRS (1702 – 12 October 1768) was a Scottish peer and astronomer who was president of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh from its foundation in 1737 until his death in 1768. He also became president of the Royal Society on 24 March 1764, and was a distinguished patron of science, and particularly of astronomy.
He was born in Edinburgh as the son of George Douglas, 13th Earl of Morton and his second wife Frances Adderley. He graduated MA from King's College, Cambridge, in 1722. In 1746 he visited France, and was imprisoned in the Bastille, probably as a Jacobite. He had a long lasting tendency to protest against the actions of the British government.
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Family
He was twice married: firstly to Agatha, daughter of James Halyburton of Pitcur, Forfarshire, by whom he was the father of three sons, two of whom died young, and three daughters. The second son, Sholto Douglas, 15th Earl of Morton, succeeded him. Secondly, on 31 July 1755, at St James's Church, Piccadilly, he married Bridget, daughter of Sir John Heathcote, Bt., of Normanton, who bore him a son, John (b. 4 July 1756), and a daughter, Bridget (b. 3 May 1758). His wife, Bridget, outlived him by thirty-seven years.
Legacy
Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia, was named after Lord Morton by Lieutenant James Cook (the spelling being an error in the published account of Cook's voyage in HMS Endeavour). Lord Morton had been influential in obtaining a grant of £4,000 to finance the voyage.
In popular media
Actor Brian Cox was cast as Lord Morton in the TV series, Longitude in 2000.
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