Ramsay

The Ramsays are anancient family of Anglo-Norman origin. Simon de Ramsay arrived with David I, and was granted lands in Lothian. He is the direct ancestor of the Ramsays of Dalhousie. A William de Ramsay appears in the Ragman Rolls in 1296, and later was an ally of Bruce and helped to assert the independence of Scotland.

The Ramsays were prominent in the Border wars over the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. In 1618, Ramsay of Dalhousie was given the title of Lord Ramsay of Melrose, which changed quicky after to Lord Ramsay of Dalhousie. Charles I granted his son, Earl of Dalhousie.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, William 5th Earl was colonel of the Scots Guards sent to support Archduke Charles of Austria. He was killed in Spain in 1710.

In 1815, George, 9th Earl was created a peerage of the United Kingdom. His son was Governer-General of India from 1847 until 1855, and was also made Marquess of Ramsay. With his death, the title became extinct.