Earl of Morton

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The title Earl of Morton was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1458 for James Douglas of Dalkeith. Along with it, the title Lord Aberdour was granted. This latter title is the courtesy title for the eldest son and heir to the Earl of Morton.

1 Succession
- 1.1 Douglases of Dalkeith
- 1.2 Earldom of Morton
2 Lords of Dalkeith (1341)
3 Earls of Morton (1458)
4 See also

The Douglases of Dalkeith are descended from Andrew Douglas of Herdmanston (d.b. 1277), younger son of Archibald I, Lord of Douglas (fl. c. 1198-1238). He was succeeded by his son William Douglas of Herdmanston, a signatory of the Ragman Roll in 1296. William of Herdmanston's son, James Douglas of Lothian succeeded his father and produced two sons, Sir William Douglas and Sir John Douglas. Sir William Douglas, known as the Knight of Liddesdale or the Flower of Chivalry obtained the privileges of the barony of Dalkeith in 1341. Following his murder at the hands of his godson William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, the barony of Dalkeith passed to his nephew, James Douglas, 1st Lord Dalkeith. James Douglas was confirmed in this position when his title was ratified by the Earl of Douglas prior to 1370.

The 4th Lord Dalkeith succeeded to his estates upon the resignation of his father c. 1457 and in 1458 was raised to the peerage as Earl of Morton. Lord Dalkeith was then a title held by the Earls of Morton as subsidiary until the 7th earl, who sold it with its estates to the Buccleuch family. It was the courtesy title for the eldest son and heir until then.

While the earldom was attainted between 1581 and 1586, the nephew-in-law of the 4th earl (also grandson of the 3rd earl), John Maxwell, 7th Lord Maxwell called himself "5th Earl of Morton". Lord Maxwell's title of Morton, which had been revoked in 1585, was revived in 1587 and 1592, so that both men, Lord Maxwell and the 6th Earl of Morton, were in possession, and a conflict arose; and though - at the time of the 7th Earl of Morton - John, 8th Lord Maxwell (c. 1586-1613), also claimed the earldom, he was attainted in 1609 and his rights then failed, his titles and estates being restored in 1618 to his brother Robert, with the title of Earl of Nithsdale (1620) in lieu of Morton.