A Georgian memorial ring,
£420
Auction: 27 May 2009 at 12:00 BST
Description
the oval front with central glazed panel containing woven hair, within a surround of oval cut cabochons (likely to be garnets), flanked by foliate engraved tapering shoulders, inscribed to reverse SHOLTO, CH/ E OF MORTON/ DIED AT TAVROMINI IN/ SICILY SEPT 25/ 1774 AGID 41
Dimensions
Height of ring to front 1.3cm
Footnote
James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton, was a Scottish representative peer, President of the Royal Society and distinguished patron of science, particularly of astronomy and philosophy. His eldest son Charles, Lord Aberdour, having died young, Sholto Charles, the second son, born in 1732, also in his father's lifetime styled Lord Aberdour, became 15th Earl of Morton.
In 1759 Sholto Charles raised a corps of light dragoons, of which he was made captain-commandant. He was one of the lords of police at the accession of George III and held that office till his death, which took place in Sicily on 25th September 1774.
He married in Edinburgh, on 19th November 1758, Katherine, fourth daughter of the Hon. John Hamilton (second son of the sixth Earl of Haddington). They had two sons, George 16th Earl, and the Hon. Hamilton Douglas, who died in 1783 of exposure, while commanding the barge of HMS Assistance, which was caught in a snowstorm while going to look for deserters and wrecked on Sandy Hook.