96. HISTORY OF THE 



Queensbury, who was for upwards of half a century 

 the great leader of the sporting world. This no- 

 bleman died on Sunday, December 23rd, in the 

 86th year of his age. James Douglas, Earl of 

 March, Baron Douglas (in the English peerage), 

 DuUe of Queensbury, Knight of the Order of the 

 Thistle, &c. &c.; was born in 1725, and succeeded 

 to Charles, his father, in 1778. He began at an 

 early age to excite the attention of the sporting 

 and fashionable world, both in London and New- 

 market. His first feat at Newmarket was his 

 match with the Duke of Hamilton, in 1756, in 

 which these noblemen rode their own horses, and 

 the Duke, then Earl of March, proved the winner. 

 His figure, at that period, is described as being 

 thin, agile, and admirably adapted for riding a 

 race, and he is said to have shewn considerable 

 judgment and skill in jockeying his horse on this 

 occasion. His next feat was the famous carriage 

 match against Count O'Taafe, of which we have 

 given a description and plate in the first volume of 

 this work.* 



His Grace was one of the most successful 

 frequenters of the turf, being extremely cau- 

 tious, and the " knowing ones" soon found out 

 that he was not to be " done.'' He was also es- 

 teemed a first-rate judge on racing matters and 

 horses. In the early part of life, he proposed 

 marriage to Miss Pelham, the daughter of Mr. 



* Vide Vol. I. 



