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Memoir of Sir George H. S. Douglas, Bart. 



Suddenly, on the 26th June, 1885, death laid his irresistible 

 hand upon Sir George Henry Scott Douglas, Bart, of Springwood 

 Park, Kelso, and a useful life was extinguished. Sir G-eorge 

 (who was the fourth baronet) traced his descent from an ancient 

 family, a branch of that of Cavers, and was a lineal descendant 

 and representative of the Black Douglas. The baronetcy which 

 he held was created in 1786, when it was conferred upon Sir 

 James Douglas for eminent naval services. The second holder 

 of the title was Sir George, son of the first baronet, who re- 

 presented Roxburghshire in Parliament for twenty-two years. 

 The third holder of the title, the father of Sir George whose 

 death is here recorded, Sir John James Scott Douglas, married 

 Hannah Charlotte, only child of Henry Scott, Esq. of Belford, 

 and their only son was born in Edinburgh on the 19th June, 

 1825, so that at his death he had just completed his 60th year. 

 Sir John James Scott Douglas died in January 1836, when his 

 son succeeded to the title and estates. At an early age he joined 

 the army, his regiment being the 34th, in which he reached the 

 rank of Captain. In 1851 Sir George, while stationed with his 

 regiment at Gibraltar, married Maria Juana Petronilla, daughter 

 of Senor Don Francisco Sanchez de Pina, of that place, by whom 

 he had four sons and one daughter, the eldest of whom, James 

 Henry, was unfortunately killed while doing telegraph military 

 service against the Zulus in South Africa in 1876. Shortly after 

 his marriage Sir George retired from the army, and settled down 

 at Springwood Park, where he delighted to reside. 



Sir George was a man of action, ready for any amount of 

 business ; and in the management of his estates, in the discharge 

 of the duties of a country gentleman, and in ingenious mechanical 

 pursuits he found ample employment for his energies. 



The Volunteer movement had in him, from its beginning till 

 his death, an enthusiastic supporter, and to his exertions and 

 painstaking labours the Kelso corps and the Border battalion 

 owe not a little of their recognised superiority. He was the first 

 captain of the Kelso company, and on the death of Lord Polwarth 

 in 1867, he was appointed colonel of the Border battalion, whose 

 motto, "Doe or die" (which is that of Sir George's family) thej' 

 adopted some years ago out of compliment to their colonel. In con- 

 nection with this service may also be noted his signal aptitude for 



