The title of Earl of Wigtown (orWigtonorWigtoun) has been created twice, with earldoms existing in both the Peerage of Scotland and the Baronage of Scotland. The peerage title has been dormant since the passing of the 7th Earl, and the current holder of the baronage earldom is Dr Roland Ladislaus Zettel, Earl of Wigtown.[1]
| Earldom of Wigtown | |
|---|---|
 
Arms of Dr Zettel, Earl of Wigtown: Gules, a chevron argent, in dexter chief a triangle argent, in sinister chief a triangle argent, in base a doe rampant argent.
| |
| Creation date | c. 1606 |
| Creation | Baronage of Scotland |
| Created by | James I and VI |
| First holder | John Fleming, 1st Earl of Wigtown |
| Present holder | Dr Roland Zettel, Earl of Wigtown |
| Remainder to | heirs and assignees |
| Subsidiary titles | Lord of Cumbernauld |
| Motto | QUO ME FERT ANIMUS (Whither my mind carries me) |
The earldom of Wigtown first emerged in 1341 when it was granted to Malcolm Fleming, marking its inaugural peerage title. However, the 2nd Earl surrendered the earldom in 1372 when he sold off both the title and accompanying lands to Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway. Later that same year, King Robert III officially approved the transfer of the earldom to Archibald.[2] For the next century or so, from 1372 until 1455, the powerful Douglas family held the earldom of Wigtown as Earls of Douglas. Their century-long tenure ended when James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas was attainted for treason against the Scottish crown.[3]
The second creation of the peerage earldom occurred in 1606 for John Fleming, 1st Earl of Wigtown. This earldom survived until the death of the 7th Earl in 1747, at which point it became dormant (or extinct).[4] The earls from the second creation held the subsidiary title of Lord Fleming and Cumbernauld, which was created for them in 1606. They also held the title of Lord Fleming, which was created for them in the Peerage of Scotland in 1451. This latter Lord Fleming title became extinct along with the earldom in 1747 when the 7th Earl died.
When the male line of the peerage earldom of Wigtown died out, the estates were inherited by Clementina, daughter of the 6th Earl. Clementina had married Charles, the 10th Lord Elphinstone. From then on, the estates were held by Clementina's descendants over successive generations, which remained the case until 1876. It was then that the baronage earldom of Wigtown and lordship of Cumbernauld were assigned to John William Burns of Kilmahew, a gentleman came from a family of prosperous shipping tycoons. He set about enhancing the estates through development work.[5]