ANGUS, ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS, 8TH EARL OF, EARL OF MORTON

born 1555 died Aug. 4, 1588, Smeaton, near Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scot. Scottish rebel during the reign of James VI and a strong advocate of Presbyterian government. He was son of the 7th earl, who was nephew of the 6th, and he succeeded to the earldom at the age of two. The earldom of Morton came to him in 1586. During the regency of his uncle, the Earl of Morton, he rose rapidly to power. He became privy councillor and sheriff of Berwick (1573), lieutenant general of south Scotland (1574), warden of the west marches and steward of Fife (1577), and lieutenant general of the whole realm (1578). But when Morton fell in 1581 Angus was declared guilty of high treason for supporting him and fled to London. After a brief reconciliation with James VI he joined the rebellion of the Earl of Mar and the master of Glamis, and sentence of attainder was pronounced against all three. The rebels fled to Newcastle, which became a centre of Presbyterianism and of projects against the Scottish government encouraged by Elizabeth I of England. They returned to Scotland in October 1584 and secured from James the restoration of their estates and a share in the government. Angus was appointed warden of the marches and lieutenant general on the border, but his support of Presbyterianism prevented his gaining real favour with the king.