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William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas

1424 – 1440

Scottish nobleman

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About William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas

Lived 1424 – 1440 (aged 15–16). William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas was a Scottish soldier.

William, 6th Earl of Douglas (c. 1424 – 24 November 1440) was a Scottish nobleman. In addition to his Earldom of Douglas, he was Earl of Wigtown, Lord of Galloway, Lord of Bothwell, Selkirk and Ettrick Forest, Eskdale, Lauderdale, and Annandale in Scotland, and de jure Duke of Touraine, Count of Longueville, and Lord of Dun-le-roi in France. He was the eldest son of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas, and Lady Eupheme Graham.

He married Lady Janet Lindsay, daughter of David, Earl of Crawford, and succeeded to the earldom on the death of his father, who had served as regent of James II. Following Archibald Douglas's death, Sir William Crichton, Sir Alexander Livingston of Callendar, and James Douglas, Earl of Avondale (William Douglas's great-uncle) shared power. Together they conspired to break the power of the late Archibald Douglas's family, and summoned William and his younger brother David to Edinburgh Castle. The so-called 'Black Dinner' which followed saw the two boys summarily beheaded on trumped-up charges, over the protests of the young King James II.

The lordships of Annandale and Bothwell fell to the crown; Galloway to Margaret Douglas (William Douglas's sister), and the Douglas lands and earldom passed to William's great-uncle James Douglas, the Earl of Avondale, who was accordingly seen later as the main perpetrator.

In popular culture S. R. Crockett based his book, The Black Douglas on the death of William. His death at the "Black Dinner" served as one of the inspirations for "The Red Wedding" in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.

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Important facts

Born
1424, Scotland
Birth century
Occupation
Nationality

Family & relationships

Parent
Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas

People in William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas?

Scottish nobleman

When was William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas born?

William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas was born in 1424 in Scotland.

When did William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas die?

William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas died on 24 November 1440 in Edinburgh.

What was William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas's occupation?

William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas was a soldier.

What nationality was William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas?

William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas was Scottish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas

· Wikidata: Q2578489

· DBpedia: William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas. https://biography.guide/william-douglas-6th-earl-of-douglas/

MLA: "William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-douglas-6th-earl-of-douglas/.

Chicago: "William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-douglas-6th-earl-of-douglas/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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