List of Knights and Ladies of the Thistle facts for kids

List of Knights of the Thistle, St Giles' Cathedral

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle was founded in 1687. Dates shown are for election or installation. Probably incomplete.

Seventeenth Century

Seventeenth Century

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
S1		James VII	1633–1710	1687	Sovereign of the order upon establishing it
1		James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth	1648–1716	1687	Founder knight
2		George Gordon, 1st Duke of Gordon	1649–1716
3		John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl	1631–1703
4		James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton	1658–1712
5		Kenneth Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Seaforth	1661–1701
6		John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort	1650–1715
7		George Douglas, 1st Earl of Dumbarton	1635–1692
8		Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray	1634–1701
S2		Mary II	1662–1694	1688	Nominally sovereign upon accession
S3		William II	1650–1702

Anne (1702–1714)

Anne (1702–1714)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
S4		Anne	1665–1714	1702	Became sovereign of the order upon accession to the throne
9		John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll	1680–1743	1704	Resigned 1710 when made KG
10		John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl	1659–1724
11		William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale	d. 1721
12		James Scott, Earl of Dalkeith	1674–1705
13		George Douglas-Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney	1666–1737
14		James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Seafield	1663–1730
15		William Kerr, 2nd Marquess of Lothian	1661–1722
16		Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery	1674–1731
17		John Erskine, Earl of Mar	1675–1732	1706	Degraded in 1715
18		Hugh Campbell, 3rd Earl of Loudoun	d. 1731	1706
19		John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair	1673–1747	1710
20		David Colyear, 1st Earl of Portmore	1656–1730	1713

George I (1714–1727)

George I (1714–1727)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
S5		George I	1660–1727	1714	Became sovereign of the order upon accession to the throne
21		John Gordon, 16th Earl of Sutherland	1661–1733	1716
22		William Cadogan, 1st Baron Cadogan	1670–1726	1716	Later Earl Cadogan
23		Thomas Hamilton, 6th Earl of Haddington	1680–1735	1717
24		Charles Bennet, 1st Earl of Tankerville	1674–1722	1721
25		Francis Scott, Earl of Dalkeith	1695–1751	1725	Later 2nd Duke of Buccleuch
26		William Capell, 3rd Earl of Essex	1697–1743	1725	Resigned 1738 when made KG
27		Alexander Hume-Campbell, 2nd Earl of Marchmont	1676–1740	1725
28		James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton	1703–1743	1726

George II (1727–1760)

George II (1727–1760)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
S6		George II	1683–1760	1727	Became sovereign of the order upon accession to the throne
29		Charles Bennet, 2nd Earl of Tankerville	1697–1753	1730
30		Charles Stuart, 6th Earl of Moray	1660–1735	1731
31		Charles Colyear, 2nd Earl of Portmore	1700–1785	1732
32		James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl	1690–1764	1734
33		William Kerr, 3rd Marquess of Lothian	1690–1767	1734
34		James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton	1703–1768	1738
35		John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute	1713–1792	1738	Resigned 1762 when made KG
36		Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun	1681–1742	1738
37		Augustus Berkeley, 4th Earl of Berkeley	1716–1755	1739
38		James Stuart, 8th Earl of Moray	1708–1767	1741
39		John Carmichael, 3rd Earl of Hyndford	1701–1767	1742
40		Lionel Tollemache, 4th Earl of Dysart	1707–1770	1743
41		Cosmo Gordon, 3rd Duke of Gordon	1720–1752	1748
42		William Dalrymple-Crichton, 5th Earl of Dumfries, 4th Earl of Stair	d. 1768	1752
43		Francis Greville, 1st Earl Brooke	1719–1773	1753
44		John Leslie, 10th Earl of Rothes	1698–1767	1753
45		James Douglas-Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton	1724–1758	1755

George III (1760–1820)

George III (1760–1820)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
S7		George III	1738–1820	1760	Became sovereign of the order upon accession to the throne
46		Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart	1721–1776	1763
47		William Douglas, 3rd Earl of March	1725–1810	1763	Later 5th Duke of Queensberry
48		John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll	1693–1770	1765
49		Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch	1746–1812	1767	Resigned 1794 when made KG
50		John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl	1729–1774	1767
51		Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle	1748–1825	1767	Resigned 1793, made KG
52		William Kerr, 4th Marquess of Lothian	1710–1775	1768
53		David Murray, 7th Viscount Stormont	1727–1796	1768	Later 2nd Earl of Mansfield
54		John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe	1740–1804	1768
55		The Prince William Henry	1765–1837	1770	Later Duke of Clarence and St Andrews and William IV, later still King
56		Neil Primrose, 3rd Earl of Rosebery	1729–1814	1771
57		Robert Henley, 2nd Earl of Northington	1747–1786	1773
58		Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon	1743–1827	1775
59		John Stewart, 7th Earl of Galloway	1736–1806	1775
60		William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian	1737–1815	1776
61		Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton	1756–1799	1786
62		Thomas Brudenell-Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury	1739–1814	1786
63		James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose	1755–1836	1793	Resigned 1812 when made KG
64		John Poulett, 4th Earl Poulett	1756–1819	1794
65		George Douglas, 16th Earl of Morton	1761–1827	1797
66		John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl	1755–1830	1800
67		William Cathcart, 10th Lord Cathcart	1755–1843	1805	Later Earl Cathcart
68		George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen	1784–1860	1808	Prime Minister 1852–1855
69		Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch	1772–1819	1812	Appointed by the Prince Regent
70		Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton	1739–1819	1812
71		George Stewart, 8th Earl of Galloway	1768–1834	1814
72		Henry Nevill, 2nd Earl of Abergavenny	1755–1843	1814
73		Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine	1750–1823	1815
74		Charles Brudenell-Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury	1773–1856	1819	Appointed by the Prince Regent. Later Marquess of Ailesbury.

George IV (1820–1830)

George IV (1820–1830)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
S8		George IV	1762–1830	1820	Became sovereign of the order upon accession to the throne
75		William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian	1763–1824	1820
76		George Hay, 8th Marquess of Tweeddale	1787–1876	1820
77		Archibald Kennedy, 12th Earl of Cassilis	1770–1846	1821	Later Marquess of Ailsa
78		James Maitland, 8th Earl of Lauderdale	1759–1839	1821
79		Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville	1771–1851	1821
80		Charles Douglas, 6th Marquess of Queensberry	1777–1837	1821
81		George Gordon, 5th Earl of Aboyne	1761–1853	1827	Later 9th Marquess of Huntly
82		Henry Greville, 3rd Earl of Warwick	1779–1853	1827
83		James Duff, 4th Earl Fife	1776–1857	1827
84		Francis Stuart, 10th Earl of Moray	1771–1848	1827
85		The Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex	1773–1843	1830
86		Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch	1806–1884	1830	Resigned 1835 when made KG

William IV (1830–1837)

Victoria (1837–1901)

Victoria (1837-1901)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
S9		Victoria	1819–1901	1837	Became sovereign of the order upon accession to the throne
89		John Campbell, 2nd Marquess of Breadalbane	1796–1862	1838
90		James Innes-Ker, 6th Duke of Roxburghe	1816–1879	1840
91		Archibald Primrose, 4th Earl of Rosebery	1783–1868	1840
E1		Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha	1819–1861	1842	Consort of Queen Victoria
92		William Murray, 4th Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield	1806–1898	1843
93		John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute	1793–1848	1843
94		James Graham, 4th Duke of Montrose	1799–1874	1845
95		John Dalrymple, 8th Earl of Stair	1771–1853	1847
96		James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin	1811–1863	1847	Viceroy of India
97		James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 10th Earl of Dalhousie	1812–1860	1848	Later Marquess of Dalhousie Viceroy of India
98		Robert Dundas Haldane-Duncan, 1st Earl of Camperdown	1785–1859	1848
99		Alexander Fraser, 17th Lord Saltoun	1785–1853	1852
100		Archibald Montgomerie, 13th Earl of Eglinton	1780–1858	1853
101		Thomas Hamilton, 9th Earl of Haddington	1780–1858	1853
102		Fox Maule Ramsay, 1st Baron Panmure	1801–1874	1853	Later 11th Earl of Dalhousie
103		George Murray, 6th Duke of Atholl	1814–1864	1853
104		George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll	1823–1900	1856
105		George Kinnaird, 9th Lord Kinnaird	1807–1878	1857
106		Archibald Kennedy, 2nd Marquess of Ailsa	1816–1870	1859
107		James Duff, 5th Earl Fife	1814–1879	1860
108		Thomas Dundas, 2nd Earl of Zetland	1795–1873	1861	Resigned 1872 when made KG
109		Robert Hamilton, 8th Lord Belhaven and Stenton	1793–1868	1861
110		David Ogilvy, 10th Earl of Airlie	1826–1881	1862
111		Francis Napier, 10th Lord Napier	1819–1898	1864
E2		The Prince Alfred Ernest Albert	1844–1900	1864	Later Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
112		Thomas Fraser, 12th Lord Lovat	1802–1875	1865
113		John Dalrymple, 10th Earl of Stair	1819–1903	1865
E3		The Prince Albert Edward, Duke of Rothesay	1841–1910	1867	Son of Queen Victoria, later King Edward VII
114		John Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl	1840–1917	1868
115		James Carnegie, 9th Earl of Southesk	1827–1905	1869
E4		The Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert	1850–1942	1869	Son of Queen Victoria, later Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
116		William Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 3rd Earl of Minto	1814–1891	1870
117		John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne	1845–1914	1871	Later 9th Duke of Argyll
E5		The Prince Leopold George Duncan Albert	1853–1884	1871	Son of Queen Victoria, later Duke of Albany
118		Charles Colville, 10th Lord Colville of Culross	1818–1903	1874	Later Viscount Colville of Culross
119		John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute	1847–1900	1875
120		William Montagu Douglas Scott, Earl of Dalkeith	1831–1914	1875	Later 6th Duke of Buccleuch
121		Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Baronet	1818–1878	1876
122		William Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton	1845–1895	1878
123		Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian	1833–1900	1878
124		John Ogilvy-Grant, 7th Earl of Seafield	1815–1881	1879
125		Douglas Graham, 5th Duke of Montrose	1852–1925	1879
126		Alexander Duff, 6th Earl Fife	1847–1887	1881	Later Duke of Fife and son-in-law of Queen Victoria
127		John Ramsay, 13th Earl of Dalhousie	1847–1887	1881
E6		Prince George, Duke of Cambridge	1819–1904	1881	Agnatic first cousin of Queen Victoria
128		Alan Stewart, 10th Earl of Galloway	1835–1901	1888
129		James Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford	1847–1913	1891
E7		Prince George, Duke of York	1865–1936	1893	Grandson of Queen Victoria, later King George V
130		Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery	1847–1929	1895	Prime Minister 1894–1895
131		William Hay, 10th Marquess of Tweeddale	1826–1911	1898
132		Charles Douglas-Home, 12th Earl of Home	1834–1918	1899
133		Lawrence Dundas, 1st Marquess of Zetland	1844–1929	1900
134		John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun	1860–1908	1900	Later Marquess of Linlithgow

Edward VII (1901–1910)

Edward VII (1901–1910)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
135		Alexander Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh	1849–1921	1901
136		Charles Hay, 20th Earl of Erroll	1852–1927	1901
137		Henry Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe	1876–1932	1902
138		George Baillie-Hamilton-Arden, 11th Earl of Haddington	1827–1917	1902
139		Ronald Leslie-Melville, 11th Earl of Leven	1835–1906	1905
140		John Hamilton-Gordon, 7th Earl of Aberdeen	1847–1934	1906	Later Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair
141		Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth	1849–1909	1908
142		Gavin Hamilton, 2nd Baron Hamilton of Dalzell	1872–1952	1909

George V (1910–1936)

George V (1910–1936)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
143		Walter Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar	1865–1955	1911
144		Donald Mackay, 11th Lord Reay	1839–1921	1911
145		Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane	1856–1928	1913
E8		Prince Arthur Frederick Patrick Albert of Connaught	1883–1938	1913	Governor-General of South Africa, husband of the 2nd Duchess of Fife
146		Arthur Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird	1847–1923	1914
147		Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat	1871–1933	1915
148		John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch	1864–1935	1917
149		Douglas Haig	1861–1928	1917	Later Earl Haig
150		John Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl	1871–1942	1918
151		David Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford	1871–1940	1921
E9		The Prince Edward, Duke of Rothesay	1894–1972	1922	Son of King George V, later King Edward VIII
152		John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute	1881–1947	1922
E10		The Prince Albert, Duke of York	1895–1952	1923	Son of King George V, later King George VI
153		Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore	1852–1930	1923
154		Ronald Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar	1860–1934	1926
155		Sidney Buller-Fullerton-Elphinstone, 16th Lord Elphinstone	1869–1955	1927
156		Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow	1887–1952	1928	Viceroy of India
157		Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne	1855–1944	1928
158		George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland	1888–1963	1929
159		Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, 10th Baronet	1866–1956	1929
160		Charles Douglas-Home, 13th Earl of Home	1873–1951	1930
161		Sir Herbert Maxwell, 7th Baronet	1845–1937	1933
E11		The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester	1900–1974	1933	Son of King George V
162		Edward Bruce, 10th Earl of Elgin	1881–1968	1933
163		Archibald Leslie-Melville, 13th Earl of Leven	1890–1947	1934
164		Donald Cameron, 25th Lochiel	1876–1951	1934
E12		The Prince George, Duke of Kent	1902–1942	1935	Son of King George V

Edward VIII did not make any appointments to the order during his brief reign.

George VI (1936–1952)

George VI (1936–1952)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
E13		Queen Elizabeth	1900–2002	1937	Consort of King George VI
165		Sir Iain Colquhoun, 7th Baronet	1887–1948	1937
166		John Dalrymple, 12th Earl of Stair	1879–1961	1937
167		Philip Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian	1882–1940	1940
168		Archibald Sinclair	1890–1970	1940	Later Viscount Thurso
169		David Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie	1893–1968	1942
170		Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope	1883–1963	1945
171		James Graham, 6th Duke of Montrose	1878–1954	1947
172		Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery	1882–1974	1947
173		Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 8th Duke of Buccleuch	1894–1973	1949
174		Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton	1903–1973	1951
175		George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington	1894–1986	1951

Elizabeth II (1952–2022)

Elizabeth II (1952–2022)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
S9		Elizabeth II	1926–2022	1952	Became sovereign of the order upon accession to the throne
E14		Philip, Duke of Edinburgh	1921–2021	1952	Consort of Queen Elizabeth II
176		Steven Bilsland, 1st Baron Bilsland	1892–1970	1955
177		David Lindsay, 28th Earl of Crawford	1900–1975	1955
178		John Stirling	1893–1975	1956
179		George Mathers, 1st Baron Mathers	1886–1965	1956
180		Kenneth Fitzgerald Kinnaird, 12th Lord Kinnaird	1880–1972	1957
181		Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan	1895–1977	1957
E15		Olav V, King of Norway	1903–1991	1962	Son of Princess Maud of Wales
182		Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, 14th Earl of Home	1903–1995	1962	Prime Minister 1963–1964 Later Baron Home of the Hirsel
183		Robert Menzies	1894–1978	1963	Prime Minister of Australia 1939–1941 and 1949–1966
184		James Wilson Robertson	1899–1983	1965	Governor-General of Nigeria
185		David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss	1912–2008	1966
186		John Reith, 1st Baron Reith	1889–1971	1968
187		Charles Maclean, Baron Maclean	1916–1990	1969
188		Simon Ramsay, 16th Earl of Dalhousie	1914–1999	1971
189		Richard O'Connor	1889–1981	1971
190		Ronald Colville, 2nd Baron Clydesmuir	1917–1996	1972
191		Robert Forbes-Leith	1902–1973	1972
192		Harald Leslie, Lord Birsay	1905–1982	1973
193		John Maclay, 1st Viscount Muirshiel	1905–1992	1973
194		Donald Hamish Cameron, 26th of Lochiel	1910–2004	1973
195		Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae	1911–1980	1974
196		George Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk	1906–1994	1976
197		William McFadzean, Baron McFadzean	1903–1996	1976
E16		The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay	b. 1948	1977	Son of Queen Elizabeth II, now King of the United Kingdom
198		John Cameron, Lord Cameron	1900–1996	1978
199		John Scott, 9th Duke of Buccleuch	1923–2007	1978
200		Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin	b. 1924	1981
201		George Thomson, Baron Thomson of Monifieth	1921–2008	1981
202		Neil Cameron, Baron Cameron of Balhousie	1920–1985	1983
203		Murray MacLehose, Baron MacLehose of Beoch	1917–2000	1983
204		David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie	1926–2023	1985
205		Iain Tennant	1919–2006	1986
206		William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw	1918–1999	1990
207		Sir Fitzroy Maclean, 1st Baronet	1911–1996	1993
208		George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie	1931–2003	1995
209		John Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott	1924–2012	1996
210		Robert Lindsay, 29th Earl of Crawford	1927–2023	1996
211		Lady Marion Fraser	1932–2016	1996
212		Norman Macfarlane, Baron Macfarlane of Bearsden	1926-2021	1996
213		James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern	b. 1927	1997
E17		The Princess Anne, Princess Royal	b. 1950	2000	Daughter of Queen Elizabeth II
214		David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn	b. 1935	2000
215		Stewart Sutherland, Baron Sutherland of Houndwood	1941–2018	2002
216		Eric Anderson	1936–2020	2002
217		David Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood	b. 1938	2004
218		George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen	b. 1946	2004
219		William Cullen, Baron Cullen of Whitekirk	b. 1935	2007
220		Garth Morrison	1943–2013	2007
221		David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead	b. 1938	2009	Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
222		Narendra Patel, Baron Patel	b. 1938	2009
E18		Prince William, Earl of Strathearn	b. 1982	2012	Grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland since 2020, now Duke of Rothesay
223		David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home	1943–2022	2014
224		Robert Smith, Baron Smith of Kelvin	b. 1944	2014
225		Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch	b. 1954	2017
226		Sir Ian Wood	b. 1942	2018
227		Lady Elish Angiolini	b. 1960	2022
228		Sir George Reid	b. 1939	2022

Charles III (2022–)

Charles III (2022–)

N°	Image	Name	Life	Date	Notes
E19		Queen Camilla	b. 1947	2023	Consort of King Charles III

See also

• List of Knights and Ladies of the Garter
• List of Knights of St Patrick
• List of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
• List of Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
• List of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire