Earl of Melfort
Earl of Melfort ( Earl of Melfort ) was a 1685/86 created noble title in the Peerage of Scotland, which was worn by members of the Scottish Clans Drummond to 1902. It is closely linked with the Jacobites.
The title goes back to John Drummond (1649-1714), younger son of the 3rd Earl of Perth. Together with his older brother James (later 4th Earl of Perth ) he had a successful career in the Kingdom of Scotland under the Stuart kings Charles II and James II. / VII.
1685 Appointed to the King of Jacob, was appointed John Drummond as Viscount of Melfort and Lord Drummond of Gillestoun. The following year, the increase was followed by the Earl of Melfort with the subordinate titles Viscount of Forth and Lord Drummond of Riccartoun, Castle Mains and Gilstoun.
The two brothers were among those closest to the king and ruled Scotland in his name. How the King James and John Drummond converted to Catholicism; latter concluded further his children from his first marriage of his Protestant from the succession.
When in 1688 King James was overthrown during the Glorious Revolution and settled in France, the Drummond brothers remained loyal to him. John Drummond also fled and joined as one of the most important Jacobite exile king. He was subsequently declared a traitor in the UK and in 1695 his title revoked ( " attainder "). King James appointed him, however, first to the English " Baron Cleworth " and then to " Duke of Melfort " with the subsidiary titles of " Marquess of Forth ," " Earl of Isla and Burtisland " " Viscount of Rickerton " and " Lord Castle Mains and Galston ." This Jacobite titles were regarded in Britain as illegal and therefore non-existent. In France, John Drummond was in 1701 recognized as Duc de Melfort and treated with all the prerogatives of a duke ( without, however, get a private French duchy ).
The title Earl of Melfort was 158 years deprived and thus shared the fate of the title Earl of Perth. The descendants of the Drummond brothers were among the most important Jacobites, took part in the uprisings in Scotland and asked a number of military leaders in the French army. Through marriage became the Duc de Melfort also the title Comte de Lussan and Baron de Valrose.
After the extinction of the line Perth in 1800 which ( in fact become meaningless at this point) swooned at the line Melfort. George Drummond, sixth " Duke of Melfort " and eleventh " Duke of Perth ", settled judicially confirm its French title in Paris 1841. It is aimed in the same year a petition to the British Queen with a request for restoration of the confiscated Scottish peerages; this request was after he was able to prove his ancestry in 1848, finally met in 1853. From now on named George Drummond Earl of Perth.
After his death in 1902 his daughter could not prove their claim to the title because they did not have the necessary documents. Then fell the Perth - title to the Viscount Strathallan. However, extinguished the Melfort title, since no one was able to prove a claim to it.
List of champions
- John Drummond (1650-1715), 1685 Viscount of Melfort, collected 1686 1st Earl of Melfort, 1692 Jacobite " 1 Duke of Melfort, " 1695 withdrawn UK title
- John Drummond (1682-1754; son of the preceding ), " 2 Duke of Melfort, " jure uxoris Comte de Lussan
- James Drummond (1708-1766; son of the preceding ), " 3 Duke of Melfort, " Comte de Lussan
- James Louis Drummond (1750-1800; son of the preceding ), " 4 Duke of Melfort ", 1800 for a short time " 9 Duke of Perth "
- Charles Edouard Drummond, called Abbé de Melfort (1752-1840; brother of his predecessor ), "5 Duke of Melfort, "" 10 Duke of Perth "
- George Drummond (1807-1902; nephew of his predecessor ), "6 Duke of Melfort, "" 11 Duke of Perth " in 1841 confirmed as the Comte de Lussan, 1853 as the 14th (5th legitimate ) Earl of Perth and 6 ( 2 legitimate ) Earl of Melfort restored