(1732 - 74), 1st surv. s. of 14th E. of Morton [S] (see James Douglas); Glasgow U. 1748, Leiden U. 1751; sty. Ld. Aberdour 1738 - 68 when suc. fa. as 15th E.; FRS 1754; m. 1758 Katherine Hamilton (1736 - 1823).
1773 - 4 Florence (13 - 16 Dec. 1773), Capua (22 Dec.), Naples (by 28 Dec. 1773 - Apr. 1774), Sicily ( - d. 25 Sep.)
With their two young sons (George, b. 1761, and Hamilton Douglas-Halyburton, b. 1763) 'and a Gentleman and Lady', Lord and Lady Morton arrived in Florence on 13 December 1773. Three days later they left for Naples. Morton thought 'his lungs tender, and that passing a Winter at Naples will be of service'.1 They passed through Capua on 22 December and by the 28th they were settled in Naples,2 where 'young Dr Rutherford' attended Lord Morton.3 On 17 May William Hamilton wrote that the Mortons were to go on a tour of Sicily, and it was there, at Taormina on 25 September, that Lord Morton died of 'a violent fever from a cold he caught on Mount Etna'.4 Lady Morton and her two sons left Naples for England in February 1775; they were in Rome in March 'but are going home as soon as ye season will permit'.5 Francis, Lord Rawdon, observed that the two boys came to Ischia from Naples with thick rashes on their faces and arms; the rashes soon disappeared, only to recur as soon as they returned to Naples.6
1. Coke Letters, 4:277 - 8 (14 Dec. 1773). 2. ASN cra 1259. SP 93/28 (Hamilton, 28 Dec. 1773). 3. Home letter bk.MSS (15 Oct. 1774). 4. SP 93/28 (Hamilton, 26 Apr., 17 May, 5 Oct. 1774). CP. 5. SP 93/30 (Hamilton, 7 Feb. 1775). Home letter bk.MSS (8 Mar. 1774). 6. Rawdon letters MSS (20 Sep. 1774).
