Lords Drummond (1488)

1^st Lord Drummond, John Drummond, b.c.1438, a.1487-1488, d.c.1519

The Drummonds were a well established family from Stirlingshire, reputed to be descended from a younger son of the King of Hungary who accompanied Edgar Atheling to Scotland in 1068. They were great supporters of Robert Bruce, from whom they gained further estates near Crieff. Whether by design or not, they made an habit of intermarriage with the nobility. Sir John Drummond of Cargill and Stobhall (b.?, d.1428) held the post of Justiciar of Scotland and married Elizabeth Sinclair, daughter of Henry Sinclair, 1^st Earl of Orkney. His descendant John Drummond, 1^st Lord Drummond, was granted the lands of Drummond in Stirlingshire by James IV in 1489. He was imprisoned in Blackness Castle for striking another during a session of the Privy Council, and his estates forfeit, but he was soon restored due to the intercession of Parliament.

2^nd Lord Drummond, David Drummond, b.1515-1517, a.c.1519, d.1571

Great-grandson of the 1^st Lord and Lady Elizabeth Lindsay (b.?, d.a.1509), daughter of Sir Alexander Lindsay, 4^th Earl of Crawford, grandson of William Drummond (b.?, d.1490) and Lady Isabel Campbell, daughter of Colin Campbell, 1^st Earl of Argyll, and son of William Drummond (b.?, d.1518) and Lady Elizabeth Graham, daughter of William Graham, 1^st Earl of Montrose. He obtained a reversal of the forfeiture of his great-grandfather, with the exception of some lands at Innerpeffrey that were handed by King James V to his grandfather’s brother John Drummond. Several of his daughters married earls.

3^rd Lord Drummond, Patrick Drummond, b.1550, a.1571, d.c.1602

Son of the 2^nd Lord and Lilias Ruthven, daughter of William Ruthven, 2^nd Lord Ruthven (for whom see the earls of Gowrie). Several of his daughters also married nobles.

4^th Lord Drummond, James Drummond, b.c.1580, a.c.1602, d.1611

Son of the 3^rd Lord and Lady Elizabeth Lindsay (b.?, d.1585), daughter of David Lindsay, 9^th Earl of Crawford. He was created 1^st Earl of Perth in 1604-1605 and 1^st Lord Drummond of Stoball.

Earls of Perth (1604-1605)

1^st Earl of Perth, James Drummond, as above

His only child, daughter Jean Drummond (b.1609, d.1637), married John Gordon, 14^th Earl of Sutherland, and so the Perth title passed to his brother.

2^nd Earl of Perth, John Drummond, b.c.1584, a.1611, d.1662

Younger brother of the 1^st Earl. He was a supporter of Charles I and so was fined by Cromwell during the Act of Grace.

3^rd Earl of Perth, James Drummond, b.c.1615, a.1662, d.1675

Son of the 2^nd Earl and Jean Kerr, daughter of Sir Robert Kerr, 1^st Earl of Roxburghe. A younger brother, William Drummond, inherited the earldom of Roxburghe and changed his surname to Kerr.

4^th Earl of Perth, James Drummond, b.c.1649, a.1675, d.1716

Son of the 3^rd Earl and Lady Anne Gordon (b.?, d.1656), daughter of George Gordon, 2^nd Marquess of Huntly. He was made Lord Chancellor in 1684 and was a founding member of the Order of the Thistle. He was an obsequious man who, with his brother curried favour with James VII, even to the extent of switching religions. At the Revolution he was imprisoned at Stirling Castle for four years. After his release he left for the Continent to join James in exile, and was created 1^st Duke of Perth in the Jacobite Peerage. The next few holders were considered dukes in France but were not considered to be members of the peerage during their lifetimes by the United Kingdom. However, when the attainder was lifted, they were technically re-instated as earls.

5^th Earl of Perth, James Drummond, b.1673, a.1716, d.1720

Son of the 4^th Earl and Lady Jean Douglas, daughter of William Douglas, 1^st Marquess of Douglas (for whom see the earls of Angus). He took part in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715.

6^th Earl of Perth, James Drummond, b.1713, a.1720, d.1746

Son of the 5^th Earl and Lady Jane Gordon (b.?, d.1773), daughter of George Gordon, 1^st Duke of Gordon (for whom see the earls of Huntly). He took part in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, and commanded the left flank at the Battle of Culloden. He died on board ship travelling back to France.

7^th Earl of Perth, John Drummond, b.1714, a.1746, d.1747

Younger brother of the 6^th Earl, and also part of the Rebellion.

8^th Earl of Perth, John Drummond, b.1679, a.1747, d.1757

Younger half-brother of the 5^th Earl, being a son of the 4^th Earl and his second wife Lilias Drummond (b.?, d.c.1685).

9^th Earl of Perth, Edward Drummond, b.?, a.1757, d.1760

Half-brother of the 5th and 8^th Earls, being a son of the 4^th Earl and his third wife Lady Mary Gordon (b.?, d.1726), daughter of Lewis Gordon, 3^rd Marquess of Huntly. When he died, there were no more male descendants of the 1^st Duke & 4^th Earl, and the line of inheritance passed to a descendant of the 4^th Earl’s brother.

10^th Earl of Perth, James Drummond, b.1707, a.1760, d.1781

Grandson of the 4^th Earl’s brother John Drummond, 1^st Earl of Melfort and his first wife Sophia Maitland (b.?, d.b.1680), and son of Robert Drummond (b.c.1675, d.1716) and Anne Inglis, daughter of Sir James Inglis, 2^nd Baronet Inglis of Cramond.

11^th Earl of Perth, James Drummond, b.1744, a.1781, d.1800

Son of the 10^th Earl and Rachel Bruce (b.?, d.1769), daughter of Thomas Bruce, 7^th Earl of Kincardine. In 1784, he obtained the forfeited estates of the Drummond under an Act of Parliament, and he was created 1^st Lord Perth, Baron Drummond of Stobhall in the Peerage of Great Britain, although he did not manage to obtain the earldom during his lifetime. When he died, his estates passed to his daughter Sarah Clementina Drummond (b.?, d.1865) who married Peter Robert Drummond-Burrell, 21^st Baron Willoughby of Eresby, and his British barony became extinct.

12^th Earl of Perth, James Lewis Drummond, b.1750, a.1800, d.1800

James Lewis Drummond, titular 4^th Duke and Earl of Melfort now staked his claim as heir-male, being a descendant of the 1^st Earl of Melfort and his second wife.

13^th Earl of Perth, Charles Edward Drummond, b.1752, a.1800, d.1840

Younger brother of the 12^th Earl, and also titular 5^th Duke and Earl of Melfort. He took his claim for the recovery of the lands and titles to the Court of Session but failed, not least as he was a Catholic priest.

14^th Earl of Perth, George Drummond, b.1807, a.1840, d.1902

George Drummond, titular 6^th Duke and Earl of Melfort, finally obtained a reversal of attainder by special Act of Parliament for both the Perth and Melfort titles and became 14^th or 5^th Earl of Perth (the former only if the attainted earls are included). However, he had no children, and so the Perth titles passed to William Drummond, 11^th Viscount of Strathallan, whose descent is outlined below.

Lords Maderty (1607)

1^st Lord Maderty, James Drummond, b.1551, a.1607, d.1623

Younger brother of the 3^rd Lord Drummond.

2^nd Lord Maderty, John Drummond, b.?, a.1623, d.1647

Son of the 1^st Lord and Jean Chisholm of Cromlix.

3^rd Lord Maderty, David Drummond, b.?, a.?, d.1684-1692

Son of the 2^nd Lord and Margaret Leslie, daughter of Patrick Leslie, 1^st Lord Lindores. On his death, the lordship transferred to his brother William Drummond, 1^st Viscount Strathallan.

Viscounts Strathallan (1686)

1^st Viscount Strathallan, William Drummond, b.1617, a.1686, d.1688

Younger son of the 2^nd Lord Maderty. In 1686 he was created 1^st Viscount Strathallan and 1^st Lord Drummond of Cromlix.

2^nd Viscount Strathallan, William Drummond, b.1670, a.1688, d.1702

Son of the 1^st Viscount and Elizabeth Johnston, daughter of Sir Archibald Johnston of Warriston.

3^rd Viscount Strathallan, William Drummond, b.1694, a.1702, d.1711

Son of the 2^nd Viscount and Elizabeth Drummond, daughter of John Drummond, 1^st Earl of Melfort. He died without any children.

4^th Viscount Strathallan, William Drummond, b.?, a.1711, d.1746

Sir James Drummond, younger brother of the 2^nd Lord Maderty, married Catherine Hamilton, daughter of Sir John Hamilton of Lettrick. Their son, also Sir James Drummond (b.?, d.1675), married Anna Hay, a grand-daughter of Andrew Hay, 8^th Earl of Erroll. Their son, Sir John Drummond (b.?, d.1707) married Margaret Stewart, daughter of Sir William Stewart of Innerytie. Their son became the 4^th Viscount Strathallan. He took part in the Jacobite Rising of 1715, and was taken prisoner at the Battle of Sheriffmuir, though released without prosecution in 1717. In the 1745 Rebellion, he commanded the Jacobite cavalry, and died at the Battle of Culloden.

5^th Viscount Strathallan, James Drummond, b.1722, a.1746, d.1765

Son of the 4^th Viscount and Margaret Nairne Murray, daughter of William Murray, 2^nd Lord Nairne. He was attainted for aiding his father during the Rebellion.

6^th Viscount Strathallan, James Drummond, b.1752, a.1765, d.1775

Son of the 4^th Viscount and Euphemia Gordon (b.?, d.1796), daughter of Peter Gordon of Abergeldie.

7^th Viscount Strathallan, Andrew John Drummond, b.1758, a.1775, d.1814

Younger brother of the 6^th Viscount.

8^th Viscount Strathallan, James Andrew John Laurence Charles Drummond, b.1767, a.1814, d.1851

Grandson of the 4^th Viscount and son of William Drummond (b.1724, d.1772) and Anne Nairne (b.?, d.1782). In 1824 he obtained a reversal of the attainder, allowing him legal use of the title.

9^th Viscount Strathallan, William Henry Drummond, b.1810, a.1851, d.1886

Son of the 8^th Viscount and Lady Amelia Sophia Murray (b.1780, d.1849), daughter of Sir John Murray, 4^th Duke of Atholl.

10^th Viscount Strathallan, James Drummond, b.1839, a.1886, d.1893

Son of the 9^th Viscount and Christina Maria Hersey Baird (b.?, d.1867)

11^th Viscount Strathallan, William Huntley Drummond, b.1871, a.1893, d.1937

Son of the 10^th Viscount and Ellen Thornhill (b.?, d.1873). In 1902 he became 15^th Earl of Perth.

Earls of Perth (1604-1605, continued)

15^th Earl of Perth, William Huntley Drummond, as above

16^th Earl of Perth, James Eric Drummond, b.1876, a.1937, d.1951

Half-brother of the 15^th Earl, and son of the 10^th Viscount Strathallan and his second wife Margaret Smythe (b.?, d.1920). He was educated at Eton and joined the Foreign Office in 1900, and became the first Secretary-General of the League of Nations from 1919 to 1933, when he became Ambassador to Italy. From 1947 to his death he was deputy leader of the Liberal Party.

17^th Earl of Perth, John David Drummond, b.1907, a.1951, d.2002

Son of the 16^th Earl and Angela Mary Constable-Maxwell (b.?, d.1877), daughter of Marmaduke Francis Constable-Maxwell, 11^th Lord Herries of Terregles (for whom see the earls of Nithsdale). Educated at Trinity College Cambridge, he started in banking before taking various ministerial roles during the Second World War, including helping Noel Coward in the Propaganda Office. He was a partner in Schroders, and was a member of Harold MacMillan’s Government. In 1957 he was appointed as a Privy Counsellor.

18^th Earl of Perth, John Drummond, b.1935, a.2002

Son of the 17^th Earl and Nancy Seymour Finke (b.?, d.1996). As well as being 18^th Earl of Perth, he is also 14^th Viscount of Strathallan, 21^st Lord Drummond of Cargill, 18^th Lord Maderty, 14^th Lord Drummond of Cromlix, 18^th Lord Drummond of Stobhall and Chief of Clan Drummond.

The courtesy title for the heir is Viscount Strathallan.

(Last updated: 20/02/2010)