Peerage Record – 18021

     James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife was born on 28 September 1729 at Banffshire, Scotland^G.¹ He was the son of William Duff, 1st Earl Fife and Jean Grant.¹ He married Lady Dorothea Sinclair, daughter of Alexander Sinclair, 9th Earl of Caithness and Lady Margaret Primrose, on 4 June 1759 at Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland^G.² He died on 24 January 1809 at age 79 at Whitehall, London, England^G, without legitimate issue.¹
     He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Whig) for Banffshire between 1754 and 1784.³ He succeeded as the 2nd Earl Fife [I., 1759] on 30 September 1763.³ He succeeded as the 2nd Viscount MacDuff [I., 1759] on 30 September 1763.³ He succeeded as the 2nd Baron Braco of Kilbryde, co. Cavan [I., 1735] on 30 September 1763.³ He purchased Innes estate in 1767 from James Innes-Ker, 5th Duke of Roxburghe.⁴ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Morayshire between 1784 and 1790.³ He was created 1st Baron of Fife, co. Fife [Great Britain] on 5 July 1790.³ He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire between 1795 and 1809.³ He purchased Balmoral in 1798 from James Farquharson of Inverey and Balmoral.⁴ On his death, his Great Britain barony expired.³ He has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.⁵
     

     Lady Dorothea Sinclair was born on 4 April 1739.¹ She was the daughter of Alexander Sinclair, 9th Earl of Caithness and Lady Margaret Primrose.¹ She married James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife, son of William Duff, 1st Earl Fife and Jean Grant, on 4 June 1759 at Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland^G.¹ She died on 30 September 1818 at age 79 at Hermitage House, Leith, Scotland^G.¹
     From 4 June 1759, her married name became Duff.¹

     Alexander Sinclair, 9th Earl of Caithness was born circa 1684.¹ He was the son of John Sinclair, 8th Earl of Caithness and Jean Carmichael.² He married Lady Margaret Primrose, daughter of Archibald Primrose, 1st Earl of Rosebery and Dorothea Cressy, on 15 February 1737/38 at Durham, County Durham, England^G.³ He died on 9 December 1765, without male issue.⁴
     He succeeded as the 9th Earl of Caithness [S., 1455] in 1705.¹ He was the last surviving peer to have sat in the Parliament of Scotland before the Union with the English Parliament.¹

     Lady Margaret Primrose was the daughter of Archibald Primrose, 1st Earl of Rosebery and Dorothea Cressy.^2,3 She married Alexander Sinclair, 9th Earl of Caithness, son of John Sinclair, 8th Earl of Caithness and Jean Carmichael, on 15 February 1737/38 at Durham, County Durham, England^G.⁴ She died on 7 October 1785 at Hermitage, Leith, Scotland^G.³
     After her marriage, Lady Margaret Primrose was styled as Countess of Caithness on 15 February 1737/38. From 15 February 1737/38, her married name became Sinclair.

     Archibald Primrose, 1st Earl of Rosebery was born on 18 December 1664 at Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland^G.² He was the son of Sir Archibald Primrose, Lord Carrington and Agnes Gray.^3,4 He and Dorothea Cressy obtained a marriage license on 3 February 1690/91.⁵ He died on 20 October 1723 at age 58.⁵
     He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Edinburgh [Scotland] 1695-700.⁵ In 1680 he served with the Imperial Army against the Turks in Hungary.⁵ He was Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Prince George of Denmark (husband of the future Queen Anne) in 1688.⁵ He was created 1st Viscount of Rosebery [Scotland] on 1 April 1700, with special remainder to heirs male of his body, in default of which, to heirs female of his body, and then to heirs of entail in the lands of Rosebery.⁴ He was created 1st Lord Primrose and Dalmeny [Scotland] on 1 April 1700.⁴ He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) [Scotland] in 1701.⁵ He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1703.⁵ He held the office of Chamberlain of Fife and Strathearn between 1703 and 1714.⁵ He was created 1st Earl of Rosebery [Scotland] on 10 April 1703, with special remainder to heirs male of his body, in default of which, to heirs female of his body.⁴ He was created 1st Viscount of Inverkeithing [Scotland] on 10 April 1703.⁴ He was created 1st Lord Dalmeny and Primrose [Scotland] on 10 April 1703.⁴ He was a Commissioner for the Union of English and Scots Parliaments in 1707.⁵ He was appointed Representative Peer [Scotland] from 1707 to 1708.⁵ He was appointed Representative Peer [Scotland] in 1710.⁵ He was appointed Representative Peer [Scotland] in 1713.⁵

     Jean Duff was born illegitimately.¹ She was the daughter of James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife.¹ She died after 1795.¹
     She was also known as Jane.¹

     General Sir James Duff was born illegitimately circa 1755.² He was the son of James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife.² He married Basilia Dawes on 12 August 1785.² He died on 5 December 1839 at Westbourne^G.²
     He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Banffshire.²

     Basilia Dawes married General Sir James Duff, son of James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife, on 12 August 1785.¹ She died on 28 May 1849.¹
     From 12 August 1785, her married name became Duff.¹

     Louisa Duff was born circa 1802.¹ She was the daughter of General Sir James Duff and Basilia Dawes.¹ She died on 1 September 1855.¹

     Hon. Murray Arthur Tollemache was born on 21 May 1853.² He was the son of John Tollemache, 1st Baron Tollemache of Helmingham and Eliza Georgiana Duff.¹ He married Margaret Witter, daughter of Henry Witter, on 13 July 1892 at Hastings, Sussex, England^G.¹ He died on 16 October 1913 at age 60.²