Marquess of Zetland

Marquess of Zetland is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 22 August 1892 for the former Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lawrence Dundas, 3rd Earl of Zetland. Zetland is an archaic form of Shetland. The Dundas family descends from the wealthy Scottish businessman and Member of Parliament, Lawrence Dundas. In 1762 he was created a Baronet, of Kerse in the County of Linlithgow, in the Baronetage of Great Britain.[2] The title was created with remainder, failing heirs male of his own, to his brother Thomas Dundas and the heirs male of his body. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baronet. He represented Richmond and Stirling in the House of Commons and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Orkney and Shetland. In 1794 he was created Baron Dundas, of Aske in the North Riding of the County of York, in the Peerage of Great Britain.[3] Lord Dundas notably purchased the right to the earldom of Orkney and lordship of Zetland from James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton.

Marquessate of Zetland
Arms: Argent, a Lion rampant within a Double Tressure flory counterflory Gules, all within a Bordure Azure. Crest: A Lion's Head affrontée proper, crowned with an Antique Crown Or, encircled by a Chaplet of Oak Vert, fructed Or. Supporters: On either side a Lion proper, crowned with an Antique Crown Or, and gorged with a Chaplet of Oak Vert, fructed Or, pendent therefrom an Escutcheon, the dexter being Argent, a Saltire and Chief Gules, on a Canton Argent, a Lion rampant Azure (for Bruce); and the sinister being lozengy Azure and Gules (for FitzWilliam).[1]
Creation date	22 August 1892
Created by	Queen Victoria
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	Lawrence Dundas, 3rd Earl of Zetland
Present holder	Lawrence Mark Dundas, 4th Marquess
Heir apparent	Robin Lawrence Dundas, Earl of Ronaldshay
Remainder to	the 1st Marquess' of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Earl of Zetland Earl of Ronaldshay Baron Dundas Baronet 'of Kerse'
Status	Extant
Seat(s)	Aske Hall
Motto	ESSAYEZ (Try) [1]

His son, the second Baron, was a Member of Parliament for Richmond and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Orkney and Shetland. In 1838 he was created Earl of Zetland in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.[4] He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He also represented Richmond and York in Parliament and served as Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire. On his death, the titles passed to his nephew, the third Earl. At first a Liberal, he held minor office in the second administration of William Ewart Gladstone but later joined the Conservative Party and served from 1889 to 1892 as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The latter year he was honoured when he was made Earl of Ronaldshay, in the County of Orkney and Zetland, and Marquess of Zetland.[5] The Earl of Ronaldshay is the courtesy title of the eldest son and heir of the Marquess. He was succeeded by his son, the second Marquess. He was also a prominent politician and served as Governor of Bengal and as Secretary of State for India. As of 2016 the titles are held by his grandson, the fourth Marquess, who succeeded his father in 1989.

The family seat is Aske Hall, Richmond, North Yorkshire.