Morton, James Douglas, 1st earl of

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Morton, James Douglas, 1st earl of [S] (d. 1493). Made earl of Morton by James II (1458). Although married to Joanna, sister of James II, Morton took little part in affairs of state. However he was briefly associated with the Kennedy faction, which controlled the minority government of James III between 1463 and 1466. He was also on the assize that forfeited Robert, Lord Boyd, and his rival faction in 1469, and possibly gave support in their fall. Morton frequently attended Parliament, but was hardly ever at court. He was one of the few magnates to remain loyal to James III in both the crisis of 1482 and that of 1488, although his son John, later 2nd earl, was involved with the treasons of Alexander, duke of Albany, in 1482. He showed no ill-will towards the regime of James IV, attending Parliament almost annually until his death.

Roland Tanner

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