James Ramsay, 17th Earl of Dalhousie

James Hubert Ramsay, 17th Earl of Dalhousie, GCVO, DL (born 17 January 1948), styled Lord Ramsay between 1950 and 1999, is a Scottish peer, courtier and landowner. He is chief of Clan Ramsay and Deputy Captain General of the King's Body Guard for Scotland. In that role, he took part in the Royal Procession at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla.[1]

The Right Honourable
The Earl of Dalhousie
GCVO DL
Lord Steward of the Household
In office
22 July 2009 – 22 February 2023
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
Preceded byThe Duke of Abercorn
Succeeded byThe Earl of Rosslyn
Member of the House of Lords
as a hereditary peer
15 July 1999 – 11 November 1999
Preceded byThe 16th Earl of Dalhousie
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Personal details
Born
James Hubert Ramsay

(1948-01-17) 17 January 1948
Political partyConservative
Spouse
Marilyn Butter
​
(m. 1973)​
Children3
Parent(s)Simon Ramsay, 16th Earl of Dalhousie
Margaret Stirling
EducationAmpleforth College

Early life and education

Dalhousie was born on 17 January 1948, the son of Simon Ramsay, later 16th Earl of Dalhousie, and his wife Margaret Elizabeth Mary Stirling (1914–1997). His mother was a sister of Sir David Stirling, founder of the Special Air Service, and therefore (a descendant of Charles II). He was educated at Ampleforth College.

In 1968, Dalhousie, then styled Lord Ramsay, trained at the Mons Officer Cadet School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Coldstream Guards.[2] In 1971 he transferred from the active list to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers.[3]

Career

Dalhousie had a career in investment banking.[4] On 15 July 1999, his father died and he succeeded to the earldom of Dalhousie as the 17th Earl. He briefly sat in the House of Lords as a Conservative, he lost his seat four months later with the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999.[5][6]

Dalhousie was appointed Lord Steward of Household on 22 July 2009 on the retirement of the 5th Duke of Abercorn.[7] He relinquished his appointment on 22 February 2023 and was succeeded by the 7th Earl of Rosslyn.[8]

He has been Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Angus since 10 December 2002.[9][10]

Marriage and issue

On 3 October 1973, the then Lord Ramsay married Marilyn Davina Butter (born 22 March 1950), second daughter of Sir David and Lady Butter, at the Guards' Chapel, Wellington Barracks.[11] They have three children:[11]

  • Lady Lorna Theresa Ramsay (born 6 February 1975), married Michael Dickinson, has issue
  • Lady Alice Magdalene Ramsay (born 10 August 1977), married Fergus Lefebvre in 2005, has issue
  • Simon David Ramsay, Lord Ramsay (born 18 April 1981), married Kaitlin Kubinsky in 2016, has issue

In 2019, he listed Brechin Castle, the family seat in Angus, for sale through Savills.[12][13][14][15] Lord and Lady Dalhousie moved to a small house of the estate, which they retained most of.[16] Much of the family's immovable properties have been vested into Dalhousie Estates, a family-run business engaged in farming, property letting and forestry, including shooting, fishing and deer stalking. The business venture provides employment for over 90 people.[17]

Lady Dalhousie is a patroness of the Royal Caledonian Ball.[18]

Honours

Honorary military appointments

Arms
Coat of arms of James Ramsay, 17th Earl of Dalhousie
Coronet
A Coronet of an Earl
Crest
An Unicorn's Head couped at the neck armed maned and tufted Or
Escutcheon
Argent an Eagle displayed Sable beaked and membered Gules
Supporters
On the dexter side a Griffin Argent, and on the sinister side a Greyhound Argent gorged with a Collar Gules charged with three Escallops of the first
Motto
Ora Et Labora (Pray and work!)

References
  1. "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  2. "No. 44661". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 August 1968. p. 9352.
  3. "No. 45404". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 June 1971. p. 6642.
  4. Pelham, Amanda (17 February 2010). "The Lord speaks". Dal News. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  5. "Mr James Ramsay". Hansard. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  6. "Earl of Dalhousie". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  7. "Appendix to the Court Circular: June 24, 2009". The Times. 25 June 2009.
  8. "Court Circular: February 22, 2023". The Times. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  9. "No. 56782". The London Gazette. 13 December 2002. p. 15176.
  10. "Lord-Lieutenant of Angus".
  11. Peter Beauclerk Dewar (2001). Burke's landed gentry of Great Britain (19th ed.). Burke's Peerage and Gentry LLC. ISBN 0-9711966-0-5. Burke's landed gentry of Great Britain (19th ed.) at Google Books
  12. "Brechin Castle" (PDF). Savills. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  13. Youens, Arabella (16 June 2019). "Yours for £3m: a scottish castle built on a fortress owned by kings". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  14. https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/spectacular-scottish-castles-and-estates-for-sale-71895, Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
  15. https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/clan-chief-puts-family-castle-on-market-after-250-years-due-to-high-running-costs-1-4869589, Clan chief puts family castle on market after 250 years due to high running costs
  16. https://lunanhead.com/2019/02/04/historic-brechin-castle-up-for-sale-brechincastle-angus-dalhousie-castles-scottishcastles/, Historic Brechin Castle
  17. Mills, Georgia (22 February 2018). "There is still an Earl of Dalhousie". The Dalhousie Gazette. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  18. "Patronesses". Royal Caledonian Ball. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  19. "No. 60032". The London Gazette. 17 January 2012. p. 786.
  20. "No. 64008". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 March 2023. p. D2.
  21. "No. 58752". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 2008. p. 9835.
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