The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Douglas, William, 6th earl of Douglas
1423?–1440, Scottish nobleman, eldest son of Archibald Douglas, 5th earl of Douglas. In answer to an invitation from the young James II, who was at that time controlled by Sir William Crichton and Sir Alexander Livingstone, Douglas and his brother visited the royal castle at Edinburgh and were there beheaded. The judicial murder achieved a temporary break in the wealth and power of the Douglas family. William had been 3d duke of Touraine, lord of Galloway and Annandale, and count of Longinville. Now the earldom passed to James Douglas, son of Archibald Douglas, 3d earl of Douglas, and Galloway went to Margaret, sister of the 6th earl, who eventually married William Douglas, 8th earl. The rest of the lands and titles were lost to the family.
