William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas

William Douglas ( * ca 1424, † November 24, 1440 in Edinburgh) was a Scottish nobleman, 6th Earl of Douglas and Duke of Touraine.

Life

William was a son of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas and his wife Euphemia, daughter of Patrick Graham, Earl of Strathearn. He succeeded his father as 6th Earl of Douglas, Comte de Longueville and third Duc de Touraine in 1439.

The young Earl was the victim of an intrigue at the court of King James II ten years William and his younger brother David, who was at that time still a child, were invited to Edinburgh Castle. There both a black bull 's head was served for dinner, which was to be interpreted as a sign of impending death. They were beheaded immediately. This episode was called " Black Dinner" in Scottish history.

William died childless. He was succeeded by his great-uncle James the Great, Earl of Avondale as Earl of Douglas.