Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-12-24
THE DUKE OF FIFE.
4 WashingtOnian Defends His Line
age From Assault.

age From Assault.
Mr.. Paul Brodie of this city writes to The
Star in regard to an article recently repub-
lished by it from the Philadelphia Press, in
which the pretensions of the Duke of Fife
to ancient and noble Scottish ancestry were
ridiculed. Mr.. Brodie says: r.
Regarding the clan of MacDuff, of which
the old Earls of Fife were head. Its origin
is clouded by fable; but the first of whom
there is any distinct trace is that earl of
Fife who is said to have slain Macbeth. and
who, according to Fordown-Malcolm III,
was rewarded. according to his family.
with the honor of placing the sovereign on
the throne: with the leading of the army.
and the sanctuary afforded by the famous
Girth cross of MacDuff, of which, 1t is be-
lfeved only the socket stone Is seen on the
Ochil range now. His son Alexander. sec
ond Earl of Fife, witnessed some charters
of Alexander l to the Trinity Church at
Scene: and Gillemichael, the fourth earl
founded nunnery at North Berwick. and
was one Of the MOBILES who treated for the
Duncan MacDuff. tenth Earl of Fife
was one of those who, in 1884. took an oath
to maintain the right of the Maid of Nor
way to the Scottish throne: and the twelfth
earl was one of those who signed the
famous letter to the pope in 1890. He was
taken prisoner at the battle of Dupplin. as
his son and successor was at that of Dur
nam in 1916. He is supposed to have died
about 1853, leaving a daughter, Isabel his
sole heiress who married Sir William
Ramsay, knight, who, 1t is said, states
Douglas, in her right became Earl of Fife,
but of that we have seen no documents.
By him she had no issue She was thrice
married, but died S. p.
There were several cadets of the Mac
Duffs. Earls of Fife says Sir Robert Sib-
bald. viz, the predecessors of the Earls of
Wemyss of Macintosh. of Tosach, of Mony-
vlird Of iph
and others of the name of Dun
Among the missing charters of Robert
III, Is one to David Duff of the lands of
Maldakatu and Baldavy in the shire of
Banr In the register of the privy council
Under date 1886. are some entries with
reference to a feud between the MacDuffs
of Strathbraan and of Fandowie who seem
10 have had quarrel among themselves.
In 1000 John MacDuff, otherwise Fergu-
son. of Fandowie, in Athole, was executed
for his share in the Gowrie conspiracy.
David Duff. descendant of the last
Earl of Fife. received from Robert III, in
the Barony of Muldavit, which continued
to be one of the chief titles of the family
until alienated in the reign of Charles II.
Some seventy-fve years after the des-
cendant of David DUFF. William Duff. to
quote Burke. was elevated to the peerage
of Ireland by the Queen Regent Caroline as
Baron Brace of Kilbryde. July %. 1735 and
advanced TO a viscounty and earldom April
~ A.'''', W the tIticS VI NlSCOuHC MdCDuH
and Earl of Fife
He was twice married: first to Janet
Ogilvie, daughter of James, Earl of Find
later and Seafield: but by her had no issue
He married, secondly, Jane. daughter of Sir
James Grant of Grant, Bart. Four of their
children all died unmarried. but he was
succeeded at his death in 1863 by his son
James. second Earl of Fife, who in 1880
was created peer of Great Britain.
The second earl died i'm 1909 and was
succeeded by his brother Alexander, third
earl, father of James. fourth earl, who
died without issue in 1851, when the title
devolved on his nephew. James, fifth earl;
who died in 1870, and was succeeded by his
son Alexander, sixth earl. who, in 1889, on
MS marriage with the Princess Louise of
Wales. was created Duke of Fife.
The writer of the article in the Philadel-
phia Press is good enough to assure us that
there is no such thing as Clan of Duff
lie might have added, If he knew so much
that there is no such thing as Clan
Gregor. or Clan Donald, or Clan Dougal
and therefore no tartan of the names given
But the MacDuff tartan and the Clan Mac
Duff are as well known in Scotland and
among Scotchmen the world over as are
the tartans of the Clans MacGregor Mac
Donald or MacDougal."
PAUL BRODIE,
SOI Florida avenue northwest"