Lords Ramsay of Dalhousie (1619)

1^st Lord Ramsay, George Ramsay, b.a.1570, a.1619, d.1629

The founder of the Ramsay family in Scotland accompanied David of Huntingdon when he became King. Sir William Ramsay was a supporter of Robert Bruce, and his son Sir Alexander Ramsay was a prominent soldier during the constant struggles against England in the 14^th Century, including the relief of Dunbar Castle in 1338 and the recapture of Roxburgh Castle in 1342. Ramsays continued to be prominent in battle against the English through the years. George Ramsay was an MP for Kincardineshire, and was first elevated to the peerage as 1^st Lord Ramsay of Melrose in 1618, but soon after exchanged that title for that of Dalhousie in Midlothian. His younger brother John Ramsay is famous for being the principal rescuer of the King during the Gowrie Conspiracy, and was created 1^st Viscount Haddington and 1^st Lord Ramsay of Barns in the Peerage of Scotland, and later 1^st Earl of Holderness and 1^st Viscount of Kingston-upon-Thames in the Peerage of England, though these titles all became extinct at his death.

2^nd Lord Ramsay, William Ramsay, b.b.1602, a.1629, d.1672

Son of the 1^st Lord and Margaret Douglas (b.?, d.1615). He served as an MP for Melrose from 1617. In 1633, he was created 1^st Earl of Dalhousie and 1^st Lord Ramsay of Carrington. He was a commander in the Covenanter army, and fought at the Battles of Marston Moor and Philiphaugh. However, he was later heavily fined by Cromwell for being a Royalist.

Earls of Dalhousie (1633)

1^st Earl of Dalhousie, William Ramsay, as above

2^nd Earl of Dalhousie, George Ramsay, b.b.1629, a.1672, d.1673-1674

Son of the 1^st Earl and Lady Margaret Carnegie (b.b.1607, d.1661), daughter of David Carnegie, 1^st Earl of Southesk. His third son, also George Ramsay (b.?, d.c.1705), was a noted soldier who fought in Holland and Flanders and in 1702 reached the rank of Lieutenant-General and was made Commander-in-Chief in Scotland.

3^rd Earl of Dalhousie, William Ramsay, b.b.1654, a.1674, d.1682

Son of the 2^nd Earl and Lady Anne Fleming (b.?, d.1661), daughter of John Fleming, 2^nd Earl of Wigton. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1672, and served as Sheriff of Edinburgh. He gained the rank of Captain in the Edinburgh militia and fought at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679.

4^th Earl of Dalhousie, George Ramsay, b.?, a.1682, d.1696

Son of the 3^rd Earl and Lady Mary Moore (b.?, d.1725-1726), daughter of Henry Moore, 1^st Earl of Drogheda. He was killed in a duel while still young.

5^th Earl of Dalhousie, William Ramsay, b.?, a.1696, d.1710

Younger brother of the 4^th Earl. He was a supporter of the Union, and was Colonel of the Scots Guards during the Wars of the Spanish Succession, reaching the rank of Brigadier-General.

6^th Earl of Dalhousie, William Ramsay, b.1660, a.1710, d.1739

Grandson of the 1^st Earl and son of Captain John Ramsay (b.b.1644, d.?) and an unknown Sinclair. Some references state that the 6^th Earl’s father is another Captain John Ramsay, younger brother of the 3^rd Earl.

7^th Earl of Dalhousie, Charles Ramsay, b.?, a.1739, d.1764

Grandson of the 6^th Earl and Jean Ross, daughter of George Ross, 10^th Lord Ross of Halkhead, and son of George Ramsay (b.b.1711, d.1739) and Jean Maule (b.?, d.1769), grand-daughter of George Maule, 2^nd Earl of Panmure. He died while on active service as a Lieutenant-Colonel.

8^th Earl of Dalhousie, George Ramsay, b.c.1730, a.1764, d.1787

Younger brother of the 7^th Earl. He was a Representative Peer and held the office of High Commissioner of the General Assembly of Scotland. He inherited the large estates of his uncle, the Earl of Panmure, with remainder to his second son William Ramsay (b.1771, d.1852), who changed his surname to Maule-Ramsay and was created 1^st Baron Panmure of Brechin and Navar in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

9^th Earl of Dalhousie, George Ramsay, b.1770, a.1787, d.1838

Son of the 8^th Earl and Elizabeth Glen (b.c.1739, d.1807). A career soldier, who fought all over the world, he eventually reached the rank of General in 1830, having served under the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular Wars and at Waterloo. He was Governor of Canada between 1819 and 1828, and Commander-in-Chief in India. He was created a Knight of the Bath in 1813, and a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (GCB.) in 1815, when he was also created 1^st Baron Dalhousie in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, and held the office of Captain-General of the Royal Company of Archers from 1830 to 1838.

10^th Earl of Dalhousie, James Andrew Ramsay, b.1812, a.1838, d.1860

Son of the 9^th Earl and Christian Broun (b.b.1790, d.1839). He was a made a Privy Counsellor in 1843, and held other senior government posts, being noted for his business skills. He was then offered the post of Viceroy of India, an office he held between 1847 and 1856. Almost immediately he was embroiled in the Sikh War, but his eventual success in this brought extensive provinces into the Empire. Indeed, to him is attributed the building of India as a major part of the British imperial rule, with the building of railways, telegraph lines and better education, although many also consider him responsible for the causes that led to the Indian Mutiny. He was President of the Council of the Royal Company of Archers in 1848. In 1849, he was created 1^st Marquess of Dalhousie in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, a title that became extinct on his death. He had two daughters by his wife, Lady Susan Georgina Hay (b.?, d.1853), daughter of George Hay, 8^th Marquess of Tweeddale, which meant that by the rules of succession, his successor as heir-male was his cousin.

11^th Earl of Dalhousie, Fox Maule-Ramsay, b.1801, a.1860, d.1874

Grandson of the 8^th Earl and son of William Maule-Ramsay, 1^st Lord Panmure (b.1771, d.1852) and Patricia Heron Gordon (b.b.1779, d.1821). Beginning public life as an MP for Perthshire, and then for Edinburgh, he became Keeper of the Privy Seal and a Privy Counsellor in 1841. He held the office of Secretary of State for War from 1846 to 1852 and from 1855 to 1858. In 1852, he succeeded his own father as 2^nd Baron Panmure, prior to inheriting the earldom. He was invested as a Knight of the Thistle in 1853 and Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Bath in 1855. In later life, he was Lord-Lieutenant of Forfarshire and Lord Rector of Glasgow University. On his death, the barony of Panmure became extinct.

12^th Earl of Dalhousie, George Ramsay, b.1806, a.1874, d.1880

Grandson of the 8^th Earl and son of Lieutenant–General John Ramsay (b.1775, d.1842) and Mary Delise (b.?, d.1843). He inherited the title late in life, after having reached the rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy. He was awarded the Companion of the Bath in 1856. He was created 1^st Baron Ramsay of Glenmark in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1875.

13^th Earl of Dalhousie, John William Ramsay, b.1847, a.1880, d.1887

Son of the 12^th Earl and Sarah Frances Robertson (b.b.1830, d.1904). He reached the rank of Commander in the Royal Navy before joining the royal household as equerry to the Duke of Edinburgh and then Lord-in-Waiting for Queen Victoria. He was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1881, and served as Secretary of State for Scotland, all in 1886. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1886.

14^th Earl of Dalhousie, Arthur George Maule-Ramsay, b.1878, a.1887, d.1928

Son of the 13^th Earl and Lady Ida Louisa Bennet (b.1857, d.1887), daughter of Charles Augustus Bennet, 6^th Earl of Tankerville. Educated at Eton and University College Oxford, he fought in the Boer War and reached the rank of Captain in the Scots Guards. He later fought and was wounded in the First World War.

15^th Earl of Dalhousie, John Gilbert Ramsay, b.1904, a.1928, d.1950

Son of the 14^th Earl and Lady Mary Adelaide Heathcote-Drummond (b.1878, d.1960), daughter of Sir Gilbert Henry Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1^st Earl of Ancaster. Educated at Christ Church College Oxford, he served in the Scots Guards from 1925 to 1930.

16^th Earl of Dalhousie, Simon Ramsay, b.1914, a.1950, d.1999

Younger brother of the 15^th Earl. Educated at Eton Christ Church College Oxford, he reached the rank of Major in the Black Watch (Territorial Army) during the Second World War, and was held as a POW. After the War, he served as a Conservative MP for Forfar, and he was Chief Whip from 1946 to 1948. In later life he was awarded many honorary titles, including Knight Grand Cross of the British Empire (GBE) and Officer of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (OStJ) in 1957, Knight of the Thistle (KT) in 1971 and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 1978. He was Governor-General of Rhodesia from 1957 to 1963 and Lord Chamberlain to HM Queen Mother from 1965 to 1992, Chancellor of Dundee University from 1977 to 1992, and Lord-Lieutenant of Angus from 1967 to 1989.

17^th Earl of Dalhousie, James Hubert Ramsay, b.1948, a.1999

Son of the 16^th Earl and Margaret Elizabeth Mary Stirling (b.1914, d.1997). After service in the Coldstream Guards, he entered the world of high finance, holding directorships of various companies. As well as being 17^th Earl, he is also 18^th Lord Ramsay of Dalhousie, 17^th Lord Ramsay of Carrington and 6^th Baron Ramsay of Glenmark.

The courtesy title for the heir is Lord Ramsay of Dalhousie, sometimes abbreviated to Lord Dalhousie.

(Last updated: 11/02/2010)