Earl of Dundee


Earl of Dundee is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1660 for John Scrymgeour, 3rd Viscount Dudhope. At his death in 1668, Duke of Lauderdale declared that the first Earl had no heirs-male, and had the crown seize all of his lands. The earldom of Dundee became dormant and its holdings and offices were granted to Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale, the Duke's younger brother. The title was revived in 1953, when it was determined that the first Earl did indeed have heirs-male, contrary to the assertion of the crown. The title was given to Henry James Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, who had previously served in the House of Commons and in the Cabinet.
The Earl of Dundee holds the subsidiary titles: Viscount of Dudhope and Lord Scrymgeour, both created 1641 during the Bishops' Wars, when King Charles I was visiting Edinburgh. On the Restoration of Charles II, Lord Dundee received the additional title Lord Innerkeithing. In 1954, the 11th Earl was created Baron Glassary of Glassary, Argyll. The first three titles are in the Peerage of Scotland and the Barony of Glassary is in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
The eldest son and heir of the earl is addressed by a courtesy title as Lord Scrymgeour.
The family seat is Birkhill House near Cupar, Fife.

Coat of arms

Arms

Gules a Lion rampant Or armed and langued Azure holding in his dexter forepaw a Crooked Sword or Scimitar Argent; behind the shield in saltire two representations of the Royal Banner of Scotland, viz. a Lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a Double Tressure flory counterflory Gules, Ropes and Tassels of the last.

Crest

A Lion's Paw erased in bend Or holding a Crooked Sword or Scimitar Argent

Supporters

On either side a Greyhound Argent collared Gules

Motto

Dissipate

History

In 1107 Sir Alexander Carron, nicknamed Schyrmeschur for his deeds against the northern rebels, was granted the arms and name of Schyrmeschur by King Alexander I. He was also granted the office of Hereditary Royal Standard-Bearer of Scotland. This gave him the right to bear the Royal Banner in front of the monarch in procession or before the Army of Scotland in times of war. In 1298 Sir Alexander Schyrmeschur was awarded the office of Constable of Dundee.

Royal Standard Bearer of Scotland (1107)

In 1107 Sir Alexander Schyrmeschur was given the hereditary honor of carrying the Royal Standard. In 1676, Charles II granted Charles Maitland, Lord Haltoun "the office of bearing our insignia within our said realm of Scotland" by a charter of novodamus. After Lauderdale's death in 1691, the office of Standard-Bearer was not claimed by anyone until 1820, when Henry Scrymgeour-Wedderburn claimed the right to act as such an officer at the coronation of George IV. The Privy Council did not grant Scrymgeour-Wedderburn the authority to appear at the coronation. However, it did confirm his possession of the office of Standard-Bearer. This was successfully confirmed by Henry Scrymgeour, de jure 10th Earl of Dundee, in 1902. In 1952, the Lord Lyon advised that the Earl of Lauderdale's right was to bear the saltire as the Bearer of the National Flag of Scotland, whereas the Earl of Dundee bears the lion rampant as the Hereditary Royal Standard Bearer for Scotland he has administered at all recent coronations.

Constable of Dundee (1298, 1324)

Sir Alexander Schyrmeschur, Hereditary Royal Standard Bearer, served as Standard Bearer for the army of Sir William Wallace, the Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland. As a reward for his gallant service he was granted the title of Constable of Dundee Castle as well as a grant of the nearby manor of Upper Dudhope. This title was originally granted as a lifetime honor but it was made hereditary by a Royal Charter granted by Robert I to his son Nicolas in 1324. It was declared dormant upon the death of John Scrymgeour, 1st Earl of Dundee and 13th Constable of Dundee, in 1668.
In the following list of the Earls of Dundee, the earls who claimed the title de jure, but in fact did not hold it de facto, are included.
The heir apparent is the present holder's son, Henry David Scrymgeour-Wedderburn of that Ilk, Lord Scrymgeour.
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his son, Hon. Tassilo Alexander Robert Scrymgeour-Wedderburn, Master of Scrymgeour.

Jacobite creation

Shortly before 12 November 1705, John Baptist/Giovanni Battista Gualterio, brother of Cardinal Filippo Antonio Gualterio, Cardinal Protector of Scotland, as of 1706, and England, as of 1717, was created Earl of Dundee in the Jacobite Peerage "to secure political support at Rome". Giovanni Battista was also Marquis of Corgnolo, near Orvieto, patrician of Rome and Orvieto, noble of Viterbo and Loreto; between 1713 and 1720, also Duke of Cumia, near Messina.