James Johnstone, 2nd Marquess of Annandale

James Johnstone, 2nd Marquess of Annandale (c. 1687/1688, † 1730 in Naples) 3rd Earl of Annandale and Hart Fell, as well as 2nd Marquess of Annandale, was born around 1687/8 and was the eldest son of William Johnstone, 2nd Earl of Annandale and Hart Fell, and 1st Marquess of Annandale, and his first wife Sophia Fairholm. He inherited the title from his father in 1721.

He spent most of his life in Italy, where he amassed a large collection of art and antiques. 1726, he tried his half-brother by law to prevent his peerage and to inherit the land. This should go to his sister Henrietta, Countess of Hopetoun and their descendants. However, this attempt was only partially successful, since it 1730 in Italy, at the age of 42 years, passed away. Only his Scottish lands and his art collection went to Henrietta, while his peerage (which could not be transferred legitimate, as he intended) went over to his half-brother George, so that he was the 4th Earl of Annandale and Hart Fell, as well as third Marquess of Annandale was. His body was transferred from Italy and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His portrait hangs today in Hopetoun House near Edinburgh.

References

• The Complete Peerage 1959 ( sub Annandale )
• Burke 's Peerage 1999 ( sub Annandale and Hart Fell ).