William Duff, 1st Earl Fife
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1697
The Earl Fife | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Banffshire | |
| In office 1727–1734 | |
| Preceded by | Alexander Abercromby |
| Succeeded by | James Abercromby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Duff 1697 |
| Died | 30 September 1763 (aged 65–66) |
| Spouse(s) |
Lady Janet Forbes
(m. 1719; died 1720)Jean Grant
(m. 1723; died 1763) |
| Children | 11, including James, Alexander, Arthur |
| Parent(s) | William Duff Jean Gordon |
William Duff, 1st Earl Fife (1697 – 30 September 1763), of Braco was a Scottish landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1727 to 1734.
Duff was the eldest surviving son of William Duff, merchant, of Dipple and Braco, and his wife Jean Gordon, daughter of Sir George Gordon, Shire Commissioner in the Parliament of Scotland, of Edinglassie, Aberdeen.[1][2][3]
Career
Duff was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for Banffshire at the 1727 British general election. He spoke and voted against the Government on the Hessians in 1730 and also voted against the Administration on the repeal of the Septennial Act in 1734. At the 1734 British general election, he stood down in favour of his brother-in-law James Abercromby. Abercrombie was a government supporter, and as a reward, Duff was created Lord Braco of Kilbryde in the Peerage of Ireland on 28 July 1735. He continued to dominate the political scene at Banffshire.[4]
In 1740, he commissioned the construction of Duff House in Banff. He was later created Earl Fife and Viscount Macduff, also in the peerage of Ireland, by letters patent dated 26 April 1759, after proving his descent from the MacDuffs, Earls of Fife.
