Memoir of Sir George If. S. Douglas, Bart ^o."> 



the management of the annual shooting competitions hold at Bow- 

 den Moor. He also held the post of Brigadier-General of the 

 Royal Company of Archers (the Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland). 



Though Sir George had not previously been conspicuous as a 

 politician, he was in 1874 prevailed upon to come forward as a 

 candidate for Roxburghshire, against the Marquis of Bowmont 

 (now Duke of Roxburghe,) who had for some years held the 

 representation of the county in the Liberal interest, and when 

 the poll was declared it was found that he had been returned by 

 a majority of 27. He stood again at the general election in 1880, 

 but was on that occasion defeated by the Hon. A. D. Elliot by 10 

 votes. Sir George was an attentive member, uniformly courteous 

 to his constituents and assiduous in his attendance in the House . 



When the Roads and Bridges Act came into operation he was 

 unanimously appointed chairman of the County Road Board and 

 of the County Road Trustees, and to these offices he devoted 

 himself with unwearied diligence and conspicuous success. He 

 was elected a member of the first School Board of Kelso, as well 

 as of the second and third ; but resigned in 1880, when he made 

 a journey to the Cape in order to erect a monument over his 

 lamented son's grave. 



Sir George took considerable interest in the affairs of the town 

 of Kelso, and not a few of its useful institutions had in him a 

 good friend, particularly the Museum, whose collection he enriched 

 by many valuable contributions, and to the proper management 

 and arrangement of which he was ever ready to give his counsel 

 and aid. He was for some years president of Kelso Curling Club, 

 and presented a cup for annual competition among the members. 

 He also presented medals annually for some time to the Kelso 

 Grammar School, and latterly to the High School and the Public 

 School at Maxwellheugh. His management of his estates was 

 intelligent and business-like, and his knowledge of agriculture — as 

 partly shown by the minute and exhaustive account of certain 

 experiments conducted by him in reference to permanent pastures 

 which he read in connection with the Border Union Agricultural 

 Society's valuable series of lectures on that subj ect — was extensive, 

 gained by study, observation, and experience. His remains were 

 interred in the mausoleum at Springwood Park. T. C. 



Sir George was greatly attached to the Ber. Nat. Club, of which 

 he became a member, August 29th, 1861, and was present at 

 every meeting that he possibly could attend. His two eldest sons 

 were both members during his life-time. 



