Lords Crichton of Sanquhar (1487)

1^st Lord Crichton, Robert Crichton, b.b.1444, a.1487-1488, d.1494-1495

The Crichton family had minor holdings around Edinburgh, but had little to do with national affairs until the 15^th Century, when William Crichton became High Chancellor of Scotland. Another branch of the family succeeded to lands in Sanquhar, then in north Dumfries-shire. Sir Robert Crichton of Sanquhar (b.b.1428, d.1478-1479) was Sheriff of Dumfries and Coroner of Nithsdale, and his son was raised to the peerage as 1^st Lord Crichton of Sanquhar. He fought for King James III at the Battle of Lochmaben in 1484 against the 9^th Earl of Douglas.

2^nd Lord Crichton, Robert Crichton, b.b.1476, a.1494-1495, d.1513

Grandson of the 1^st Lord and Christian Erskine, and son of Robert Crichton of Kinnoull (b.b.1460, d.c.1483-1492) and Lady Marion Stuart (b.b.1460, d.?), daughter of John Stuart, 1^st Earl of Lennox. He was probably killed at Flodden.

3^rd Lord Crichton, Robert Crichton, b.b.1491, a.1513, d.1516-1520

Son of the 2^nd Lord and Marion Maxwell (b.?, d.b.1527).

4^th Lord Crichton, Robert Crichton, b.1515-1520, a.1516-1520, d.1535-1536

Son of the 3^rd Lord and Elizabeth Murray (b.b.1500, d.?).

5^th Lord Crichton, William Crichton, b.b.1520, a.1535-1536, d.1550

Younger brother of the 4^th Lord.

6^th Lord Crichton, Robert Crichton, b.b.1550, a.1550, d.1561

Son of the 5^th Lord and Elizabeth Fleming (b.b.1526, d.?), daughter of Malcolm Fleming, 3^rd Lord Fleming.

7^th Lord Crichton, Edward Crichton, b.?, a.1561, d.1569

Younger brother of the 6^th Lord.

8^th Lord Crichton, Robert Crichton, b.c.1568, a.1569, d.1612

Son of the 7^th Lord and Margaret Douglas (b.b.1551, d.?), daughter of Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig (after her husband’s death she re-married William Graham, 5^th Earl of Menteith).

9^th Lord Crichton, William Crichton, b.c.1578, a.1612, d.1642-1643

Grandson of the 5^th Lord and son of William Crichton (b.b.1550, d.?) and Katherine Carmichael. He was created 1^st Viscount of Air and 1^st Lord Sanquhar in 1622, and in 1633 was created 1^st Earl of Dumfries and 1^st Lord Crichton of Sanquhar and Cumnock.

Earls of Dumfries (1633)

1^st Earl of Dumfries, William Crichton, as above

2^nd Earl of Dumfries, William Crichton, b.c.1598, a.1642-1643, d.1691

Son of the 1^st Earl and Euphemia Seton (b.b.1582, d.?). In 1690, his only surviving son recently dead and his grandson just born, he obtained a decree that the title would fall to the grandson, and failing that, on his grandsons sisters and whomsoever children they produced.

3^rd Earl of Dumfries, William Crichton, b.b.1690, a.1691, d.1694-1694

Grandson of the 2^nd Earl and Penelope Swift, and son of Charles Crichton, Lord Crichton (b.?, d.1689-1690) and Sarah Dalrymple, daughter of Sir James Dalrymple, 1^st Viscount Stair. He died very young and the title transferred to his older sister.

4^th Earl (Countess) of Dumfries, Penelope Crichton, b.?, a.1693-1694, d.1741-1742

Older sister of the 3^rd Earl.

5^th Earl of Dumfries, William Dalrymple-Crichton, b.b.1716, a.1741-1742, d.1768

Son of the Countess of Dumfries and Colonel William Dalrymple (b.b.1688, d.1744), son of John Dalrymple, 1^st Earl of Stair. In 1743, he fought in the Battle of Dettingen under his uncle, the 2^nd Earl of Stair, and in 1760 he succeeded as 4^th Earl of Stair. He was also made a Knight of the Thistle. He had one son who predeceased him. The earldom of Stair reverted to the Dalrymple family while the Dumfries title passed via the female line.

6^th Earl of Dumfries, Patrick MacDowall-Crichton, b.1726, a.1768, d.1803

Grandson of the Countess of Dumfries, and son of Lady Elizabeth Crichton-Dalrymple (b.b.1710, d.?) and John McDouall. He was a Representative Peer from 1790 to 1803. His daughter, Lady Elizabeth Penelope MacDowall-Crichton (b.1772, d.1797) married the 1^st Marquess of Bute’s oldest son, John Stuart, Viscount Mount Stuart, and the titles of the Earl of Dumfries were inherited by their son, John Crichton-Stuart, the 2^nd Marquess of Bute.

For a continuation of this line, please transfer to the Bute page.

(Last updated: 13/09/2012)

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