Career
Douglas became a captain in the Royal Navy in 1744. In 1745 he commanded the HMS Mermaid at Louisbourg and in 1746 he commanded the HMS Vigilante at Louisbourg. In 1746 was appointed Commodore of Newfoundland by Vice-Admiral Isaac Townsend.
He was commander of the squadron which captured Dominica in 1761.
He served in the fleet under George Rodney which captured Martinique in February 1762 and then served in the fleet under George Pocock which captured Havana in August 1762. He became Commander-in-Chief, Jamaica Station later in the year.
Promoted to vice-admiral in 1770, he became Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth in 1774 and was then promoted to admiral in 1778. In 1786 he was made a Baronet.
Douglas was the son of George Douglas, 7th laird of Friarshaw, Roxburghshire, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Patrick Scott, baronet, of Ancrum, also of Roxburghshire.
This Douglas line descended from the Douglas of Cavers branch of the family, and were lawyers and merchants. They took the title Douglas of Friarshaw from the original seat of the family in the parish of Lilliesleaf. Sir George Douglas, 2nd Baronet, was a captain in the 25th Regiment of Foot and later commanded the Kelso Volunteers.
He sold the old estate of Friarshaw in 1788 and became Member of Parliament for Roxburgh.
