View source for Earl of Wemyss

{{short description|Titles in the Peerage of Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox nobility title
| name              = Earldom of Wemyss<br /><small>''held with''</small><br />Earldom of March<br /><small>''since 1826''</small> 
| image             = [[File:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|150px|center]][[File:Arms of Charteris-Wemyss, Earls of Wemyss and March.svg|180px]] 
| image_size        =  
| alt               =  
| caption           = ''Quarterly: 1st & 4th argent, a fess, azure, within a double tressure, flory and counterflory, gules, for Charteris, 2nd and 3rd, Or, a lion rampant, gules, armed and langued azure, for Wemyss''
| creation_date     = 1633 <small>(Earl of Wemyss)</small><br />1697 <small>([[Earl of March]])</small> 
| creation          =  
| monarch           = [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] and [[William III of England|William III]] 
| peerage           = [[Peerage of Scotland]] 
| baronetage        =  
| first_holder      = [[John Wemyss, 1st Earl of Wemyss]]<br />William Douglas, 1st Earl of March
| last_holder       =  
| present_holder    = [[James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss|James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss and 9th Earl of March]] 
| heir_apparent     = Richard Charteris, Lord Elcho 
| heir_presumptive  =  
| remainder_to      = The 1st Earl's [[heirs male]] [[heirs of the body|of the body]] lawfully begotten 
| subsidiary_titles = Lord Elcho<br />Lord Neidpath<br />Viscount Peebles 
| status            =  
| extinction_date   =  
| family_seat       = [[Gosford House]] 
| former_seat       = Amisfield House<br />[[Neidpath Castle]]<br />[[Elcho Castle]] 
| motto             = ''Je Pense'' ("I think")<ref>{{cite book|title=The Peerage of Scotland, Including the Dormant, Attainted and Extinct Titles ... Embellished with ... Engravings of All Their Armorial Bearings, Etc|date=1834|publisher=P. Brown|pages=115–116|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M6RVAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA115|access-date=5 November 2016|language=en}}</ref> 
| footnotes         =  
}}
[[Image:Neidpath Castle.jpg|thumb|Neidpath Castle]]

'''Earl of Wemyss''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|iː|m|z}} {{respell|WEEMZ|'}}) is a title in the [[Peerage of Scotland]] created in 1633. The [[Scotland|Scottish]] Wemyss family had possessed the lands of [[Wemyss Castle|Wemyss]] in [[Fife]] since the 12th century.<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Wemyss, Earls of|volume=28|page=517}}</ref> Since 1823 the earldom has been held with the '''Earldom of March''', created in 1697. The holder of the title is sometimes known as the Earl of Wemyss and March, but the titles are distinct.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1999-11-25|title=A masterpiece of timing|url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/1999/nov/25/artsfeatures11|access-date=2021-08-18|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

==History==
{{For|Earls of March before 1823|Earl of March}}
In 1625 [[John Wemyss, 1st Earl of Wemyss|John Wemyss]] was created a '''Baronet''', of [[Wemyss, Fife|Wemyss]] in the County of Fife, in the [[Baronetage of Nova Scotia]]. In 1628 he was raised to the Peerage of Scotland as '''Lord Wemyss of Elcho''', and in 1633 he was further honoured when he was made '''Lord Elcho and Methel''' and '''Earl of Wemyss''', also in the Peerage of Scotland. He later supported the Scottish parliament against [[Charles I of England|Charles I]], and died in 1649. He was succeeded by his son David, the second Earl.<ref name="EB1911"/>

In 1672 David resigned his peerages to the Crown in return for a new patent with original precedency and extending the limitation to his daughters. Lord Wemyss had no male issue and on his death in 1679 the baronetcy became extinct. He was succeeded in the peerages according to the new patent by his daughter Margaret, the third Countess of Wemyss. She married as her first husband her third cousin twice removed Sir James Wemyss, Lord Burntisland. He was the son of General Sir James Wemyss of Caskieberry, grandson of James Wemyss, younger brother of Sir John Wemyss, great-grandfather of the first Earl of Wemyss. She was succeeded by her son from her first marriage, David, the fourth Earl. He served as [[Lord High Admiral of Scotland]] and sat in the [[House of Lords]] as a [[List of Scottish representative peers|Scottish representative peer]] from 1707 to 1710. Lord Wemyss married Lady Anne Douglas, daughter of [[William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry]] and sister of William Douglas, 1st [[Earl of March]] (see below).

On his death the titles passed to his second but eldest surviving son James, the fifth Earl. He married the great heiress Janet Charteris, daughter of Colonel [[Francis Charteris (Scottish aristocrat)|Francis Charteris]], who had made a large fortune by gambling and was noted for the rape of Anne Bond. Their eldest son [[David Wemyss, Lord Elcho|David]], Lord Elcho, was implicated in the [[Jacobite risings|Jacobite rising]] of 1745, and was consequently [[Attainder|attainted]].<ref name="EB1911"/> On his father's death in 1756 he was not allowed to succeed to the peerages, but nonetheless assumed the title of Earl of Wemyss. Lord Elcho died childless and the peerages would have but for the attainder devolved upon his younger brother Francis, the ''soi disant'' seventh Earl, who nevertheless assumed the title. He assumed the surname of Charteris in lieu of Wemyss on being made heir his maternal grandfather Colonel Charteris's estate. His successor was his grandson Francis, the ''soi disant'' eighth Earl (the son of [[Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho]]).

In 1790 the family commissioned a large townhouse at 64 [[Queen Street, Edinburgh]], a bay wider than the already large adjacent townhouses.<ref>Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker</ref>

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Baron Wemyss Restoration Act 1826
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act to restore Francis Baron Wemyss and others from the Effects of the Attainder of David Wemyss, commonly called Lord Elcho.
| year                  = 1826
| citation              = [[7 Geo. 4]]. c. ''49'' {{small|Pr.}}
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 26 May 1826
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
In 1810, upon the death of [[William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry|William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry and 3rd Earl of March]], Francis Wemyss-Charteris succeeded as fourth Earl of March, fourth Viscount of Peebles and fourth Lord Douglas of Neidpath, Lyne and Munard as the lineal heir male of the aforementioned Lady Anne Douglas, sister of the first Earl of March (see below). On his accession to these titles he assumed the surname of Charteris-Wemyss-Douglas. In 1821 he was created '''Baron Wemyss''', of Wemyss in the County of Fife, in the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]]. In 1826 he also obtained a reversal of the attainder of the earldom of Wemyss via the '''{{visible anchor|Baron Wemyss Restoration Act 1826}}''' ([[7 Geo. 4]]. c. ''49'' {{small|Pr.}}) and became the eighth Earl of Wemyss.

[[Image:Elcho castle.jpg|thumb|Elcho Castle]]
[[File:Townhouse at 64 Queen Street, Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|Townhouse at 64 Queen Street, Edinburgh]]
He was succeeded by his son, the ninth Earl of Wemyss and fifth Earl of March. He served as [[Lord-Lieutenant of Peeblesshire]] from 1853 to 1880. When he died the titles passed to his son, the tenth Earl. He represented [[Gloucestershire (UK Parliament constituency)|Gloucestershire]] and [[Haddingtonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Haddingtonshire]] in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] for many years. He was succeeded by his fifth but eldest surviving son, the eleventh Earl. He sat as [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament]] for Haddingtonshire and [[Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)|Ipswich]] and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Haddingtonshire from 1918 to 1937. {{As of|2014}} the titles are held by the thirteenth Earl of Wemyss and ninth Earl of March, who succeeded in 2008. He is also Chief of [[Clan Charteris]].

Several other members of the Wemyss, later Charteris, family, have also gained distinction. [[William Wemyss]] (1760–1822), son of the Hon. [[James Wemyss (1726–1786)|James Wemyss]] (1726–1786), third son of the fifth Earl, was a [[Lieutenant-General]] in the Army. His elder son [[James Erskine Wemyss]] (1789–1854) was a [[Rear-Admiral]] in the [[Royal Navy]] and the grandfather of [[Admiral of the Fleet]] [[Rosslyn Erskine-Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss]] (12 April 1864{{snd}}24 May 1933), known as Sir Rosslyn Wemyss between 1916 and 1919. William Wemyss (1790–1852), younger son of the aforementioned William Wemyss, was a Lieutenant-General in the Army. William Binfield Wemyss (1810–1890), son of James Wemyss (1778–1849), younger son of the aforementioned the Hon. James Wemyss, was a General in the Army. The Hon. Frederick William Charteris (1833–1887), third son of the ninth Earl, was a [[Captain (naval)|captain]] in the Royal Navy. The Hon. Sir Evan Edward Charteris (1864–1940), sixth son of the tenth Earl, was a historian, biographer and barrister and notably published biographies of [[John Singer Sargent]] and of [[Edmund Gosse]]. The Hon. [[Martin Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield|Martin Michael Charles Charteris]], second son of the aforementioned Captain Hugo Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho, eldest son of the eleventh Earl, was private secretary to [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] and was created a [[life peer]] as Baron Charteris of Amisfield in 1978. [[Hugo Charteris]] (1922–1970), grandson of the eleventh Earl, was a renowned post-war novelist and screenwriter. His son, [[Jamie Charteris]], became a successful cartoonist.

The family seat is [[Gosford House]] near [[Longniddry]], [[East Lothian]]. The family also owns [[Stanway House]] in [[Gloucestershire]], [[Neidpath Castle]] near [[Peebles]] and [[Elcho Castle]] near [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]].

==Earls of Wemyss (1633)==
*[[John Wemyss, 1st Earl of Wemyss]] (died 1649)
*[[David Wemyss, 2nd Earl of Wemyss]] (1610–1679)
*[[Margaret Wemyss, 3rd Countess of Wemyss]] (1659–1705)
*[[David Wemyss, 4th Earl of Wemyss]] (c. 1678–1720)
*[[James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss]] (1699–1756)
*[[David Wemyss, Lord Elcho|David Wemyss, ''soi disant'' 6th Earl of Wemyss]] (1721–1787) (attainted 1746)
*[[Francis Wemyss-Charteris|Francis Wemyss Charteris, ''soi disant'' 7th Earl of Wemyss]] (1723–1808)
*[[Francis Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss|Francis Wemyss Charteris Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss, 4th Earl of March]] (1772–1853) (restored 1826)
*[[Francis Wemyss-Charteris, 9th Earl of Wemyss|Francis Wemyss-Charteris, 9th Earl of Wemyss, 5th Earl of March]] (1795–1883)
*[[Francis Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss|Francis Richard Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss, 6th Earl of March]] (1818–1914)
*[[Hugo Charteris, 11th Earl of Wemyss|Hugo Richard Charteris, 11th Earl of Wemyss, 7th Earl of March]] (1857–1937)
*[[David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss|(Francis) David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss, 8th Earl of March]] (1912–2008)
*[[James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss|James Donald Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss, 9th Earl of March]] (born 1948)

The [[heir apparent]] is his only son (Francis) Richard Charteris, Lord Elcho (born 1984), a lawyer.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.tatler.com/the-tatler-list/e/lord-elcho| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120309181900/http://www.tatler.com/the-tatler-list/e/lord-elcho| archive-date = 2012-03-09| title = Lord Elcho - Tatler}}</ref>

{{Collapse top|title={{small|Line of succession, simplified}}}}
{{tree list}}
*[[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|35px]] ''[[James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss]]''
**[[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|35px]] ''[[David Wemyss, Lord Elcho|David Wemyss, (6th Earl of Wemyss)]] (1721–1787)''
**[[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|35px]] ''[[Francis Charteris, 7th Earl of Wemyss|Francis Charteris, (7th Earl of Wemyss)]]. (1723–1808)''
***''[[Francis Charteris, Lord Elcho]] (1749–1808)''
****[[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|35px]] ''[[Francis Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss]], 4th Earl of March (1772–1853)''
*****[[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|35px]] ''[[Francis Wemyss-Charteris, 9th Earl of Wemyss]], 5th Earl of March (1795–1883)''
******[[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|35px]] ''[[Francis Charteris, 10th Earl of Wemyss]], 6th Earl of March (1818–1914)''
*******''Francis Charteris (1844–1870)''
*******''Arthur Charteris (1846–1847)''
*******''Alfred Charteris, (1847–1873)''
*******[[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|35px]] ''[[Hugo Charteris, 11th Earl of Wemyss]], 7th Earl of March (1857–1937)''
********''[[Hugo Charteris (cricketer)|Hugo Charteris, Lord Elcho]] (1884–1916)''
*********[[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|35px]] ''[[David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss]], 8th Earl of March (1912–2008)''
**********''Iain Charteris, Lord Elcho (1945–1954)''
**********[[Image:Coronet of a British Earl.svg|35px]] '''[[James Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss]], 9th Earl of March''' (born 1948)
***********'''(1).''' (Francis) Richard Charteris, Lord Elcho (born 1984)
*********[[Image:Coronet of a British Baron.svg|35px]] ''[[Martin Charteris, Baron Charteris of Amisfield]] (1913–1999)''
**********'''(2).''' Hon. Andrew Charteris (born 1947)
**********'''(3).''' Hon. Harold Charteris (born 1950)
********''Hon. Guy Charteris (1886–1967)''
*********''[[Hugo Charteris]] (1922–1970)''
**********'''(4).''' Jamie Charteris (born 1958)
***********'''(5).''' Felix Charteris (born 1992)
******''Frederick Charteris (1833–1887)''
*******''Nigel Charteris (1878–1967)''
********''John Charteris (1914–2006)''
*********'''(6).''' Martin Charteris (born 1960)
**********'''(7).''' Michael Charteris (born 1990)
**********'''(8).''' Andrew Charteris (born 1992)
********''David Charteris (1920–2007)''
*********'''(9)''' Nigel Charteris (born 1958)
**********'''(10)''' James Charteris (born 1992)
**********'''(11)''' Thomas Charteris (born 1998)
**''Hon. [[James Wemyss (1726–1786)|James Wemyss]] (1726–1786)''
***''[[William Wemyss]] (1760–1822)''
****''[[James Erskine Wemyss|James Erskine-Wemyss]] (1789–1854)''
*****''[[James Hay Erskine Wemyss|James Erskine-Wemyss]] (1829–1864)''
******''[[Randolph Wemyss|Randolph Erskine-Wemyss]] (1858–1908)''
*******''Michael Erskine-Wemyss (1888—1982)''
********''David Wemyss of that Ilk (1920–2005)''
*********'''(12).''' Michael Wemyss of that Ilk, younger (born 1947)
*********'''(13).''' Charles Wemyss (born 1952)
**********'''(14).''' James Michael Wemyss (born 1987)
********'''(15).''' Andrew Wemyss (born 1925)
*********'''(16).''' Andrew Wemyss (born 1970)
**********'''(17).''' Jonathan Wemyss (born 2004)
******[[Image:Coronet of a British Baron.svg|35px]] ''[[Rosslyn Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss]] (1864–1933)''
1–11 are in line for the Barony of Wemyss as well as the earldoms.
{{tree list/end}}
<ref name="DPB">{{cite book |year=2019|chapter=Wemyss and March, Earl of |editor1-last=Morris |editor1-first=Susan |editor2-last=Bosberry-Scott |editor2-first=Wendy |editor3-last=Belfield |editor3-first=Gervase |title=Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage|volume=1 |edition=150th |location=London |publisher=Debrett's Ltd. |publication-date=|pages=3548–3553|arxiv= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn=978-1-999767-0-5-1}}</ref>
{{collapse bottom}}

==Earls of March (1697)==
*[[William Douglas, 1st Earl of March]] (c. 1665–1705)
*[[William Douglas, 2nd Earl of March]] (c. 1696–1731)
*[[William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry|William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry, 3rd Earl of March]] (1725–1810)
*[[Francis Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss|Francis Wemyss Charteris Douglas, 8th Earl of Wemyss, 4th Earl of March]] (1772–1853)
''See above for further succession''

{{Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensbury family tree}}

==See also==
*[[Clan Charteris]]
*[[Duke of Queensberry]]
*[[Marquess of Queensberry]]
*[[Earl of March]]
*[[Earl of Ruglen]]
*[[Earl of Selkirk]]
*[[Baron Wester Wemyss]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990, {{Page needed |date=February 2013}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst258.html Gosford House from Gazetteer for Scotland]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081217053356/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-earl-of-wemyss-and-march-landowner-and-conservationist-who-served-the-scottish-national-trust-for-half-a-century-1067083.html The Independent obituary: The Earl of Wemyss and March] Monday, 15 December 2008.
{{Extant British earldoms}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wemyss}}
[[Category:Earldoms in the Peerage of Scotland]]
[[Category:Clan Charteris]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1633]]