James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
Regent of Scotland · Lived 1516 to 1581 · aged 65
James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton was a Scottish nobleman. He played a leading role in the murders of Queen Mary's confidant, David Rizzio, and king consort Henry Darnley. He was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of James VI.
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James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton![Morton's town house[11] in Edinburgh is now a backpackers' hostel](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Regent_Morton%27s_House%2C_Blackfriars_Street_Edinburgh.jpg/1280px-Regent_Morton%27s_House%2C_Blackfriars_Street_Edinburgh.jpg)
Morton's town house[11] in Edinburgh is now a backpackers' hostel
James Douglas, c. 1578, by Arnold Bronckorst, Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The "Maiden" in the National Museum of Scotland
Stone marker in Greyfriars Kirkyard
Drochil Castle, basement corridor. The Castle is notable for its planning with central corridors on three levelsAbout this person
He was in some ways the most successful of the four since he won the civil war that had been dragging on with the supporters of the exiled Mary, Queen of Scots. However, he came to an unfortunate end, executed by means of the Maiden, a predecessor of the guillotine.