Morton, JAMES DOUGLAS, EARL OF, regent of Scotland, was born in the first quarter of the 16th century, the younger son of Sir George Douglas of Pittendreich, near Edinburgh. In 1553, in right of his wife Elizabeth, daughter of the third Earl of Morton, he succeeded to the title and estates of that earldom. He joined the Reformers in 1557; in 1561 was sworn a privy-councillor; and in 1563 was made Lord High Chancellor. Having borne a foremost part in Rizzio's assassination (1566), he fled with his associates to England, but, through Bothwell's interest, in eight months obtained his pardon from the queen. He was privy to the design for Darnley's murder, but was purposely absent from Edinburgh on the night of the tragedy (1567); and, on Bothwell's abdication of Mary, he joined the confederacy of the nobles against them. He figured prominently at Carberry Hill; discovered the 'Casket Letters'; led the van at Langside (1568); and, after the brief regencies of Moray, Lennox, and Mar, in November 1572 was himself elected regent. His whole policy was directed in favour of Elizabeth, from whom in 1571 he was receiving bribes; and his high-handed treatment alike of the nobles and of the Presbyterian clergy, his attempts to restore episcopacy, and the avarice and rapacity imputed to him, daily swelled the number of his enemies, who already included all Mary's adherents. He seemed to have retrieved his temporary downfall by the seizure two months later of Stirling Castle (May 1578); but Esme Stuart in 1580 completely supplanted him in young King James's favour; and on 2d June 1581, as 'art and part' in Darnley's murder, he was beheaded with his own 'Maiden' in the Edinburgh Grass-market. 'He died prondly, said his enemies, and Roman-like, as he had lived; constantly, humbly, and Christian-like, said the pastors who were beholders.'
See DOUGLAS, MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, and JAMES VI., with works there cited; also Mr T. F. Henderson's article in vol. xv. of the Dict. of Nat. Biog. (1888).