Scottish Earl leaves £11m fortune

The aristocrat, who was 88 when he died, was described as shrewd businessman and during his life served on the board of Quickwing Ltd and the Scottish board of the Bristol and West Building Society.

Having finished his formal education at 17, he had established his lorry business by 20 before going on to study veterinary science in Edinburgh and then set up as a Wiltshire farmer with his own livestock company.

Morton also dedicated much of his time to raising the profile of the game of polo in Scotland and regularly took part in matches for Edinburgh Polo Club at his stately home.

The Earl, whose family has been owned the Dalmahoy Estate in West Lothian since around 1760, also served as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, where he spoke out on issues affecting Scotland, particularly on the state of the prisons.

He was also a former chairman of the Dalmahoy Country Club, an exclusive hotel and golfing centre.

Legal papers now show Lord Douglas had accrued £11,064,631.55 and left instructions it be handed over to his family.

The bulk of his fortune was made up from land and property, including his Dalmahoy estate, and a stocks and shares portfolio.

His eldest son, John Stewart Sholto Douglas, formerly Lord Aberdour, became the 22nd Earl of Morton on his death.