Archibald Douglas (1883–1960)

For other people named Archibald Douglas, see Archibald Douglas (disambiguation).
Archibald Douglas
Born (1883-07-19)19 July 1883
Stjärnorp Castle, Sweden
Died 5 July 1960(1960-07-05) (aged 76)
Grensholm, Sweden
Allegiance Sweden
Service/branch Swedish Army
Years of service 1903–1948
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held Chief of the Army (1944–48)
Battles/wars Finnish Civil War

Count Vilhelm Archibald Douglas (19 July 1883 – 5 July 1960) was a Swedish nobleman and soldier who served as Chief of the Army from 1944 to 1948.

Early life and career

Douglas was born at Stjärnorp Castle, Östergötland County and was the second son of Count Ludvig Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, and Countess Anna Louise Dorotea (née Ehrensvärd).[1] Archibald's elder brother Robert, a nobleman in Germany, married dowager Queen Augusta Victoria of Portugal, widow of King Manoel II.

Following his family's traditions, he was educated in the military, and he took part also voluntarily in many combat developments. Sweden did not wage any wars during his lifetime, so an actual combat and war situation had to be experienced elsewhere. As a relatively young man, Archibald Douglas participated as a volunteer in the Civil War of 1918 in Finland, and received in that country the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After the Finnish adventure, he continued a steady career in Swedish land forces, despite Sweden being neutral all his career. His tasks were more like guard duties and maintaining defense capabilities.

In 1930s and 1940s, Archibald held commands over large military districts, and as Chief of the Army (1944–48).

Douglas wrote biographical literature and biographies of Marshal of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (his Finnish contemporary), and Swedish Field Marshal Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge, his ancestor. The ancestral Stjärnorp Castle, which his father had purchased back to the family some years before Archibald's birth, was designated as Archibald's family seat.

Personal life and death

In 1907 he married Astri Henschen (1883-1976) in Ronneby. She was the daughter of Professor Salomon Eberhard Henschen and Gerda (née Sandell).[1] Douglas lived in Villa Parkudden in Djurgården,[2] and also owned Stjärnorp Castle in Östergötland County from 1947. He was the father of the Ambassador Carl Douglas (1908–1961) and CEO Archibald Douglas (1910–1992) and grandfather of financier Gustaf Douglas.

Douglas died as a result of a car accident in Grensholm near Linköping in July 1960.

Descendants

Through his eldest son, Carl Ludvig, he is the grandfather of Elisabeth Duchess in Bavaria, wife of Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria. He is also the grandfather of Rosita Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, the third wife of John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough, they divorced in 2008.

Published works

References

  1. 1 2 Sveriges dödbok 1947-2003 Swedish death index 1947-2003 (Version 3.0 ed.). Sundbyberg: Sveriges släktforskarförbund. 2005.
  2. ↑ Bonnier, Albert (1985). Personligt: sett, hört och tänkt (in Swedish). Stockholm: Bonnier. p. 18. ISBN 91-0-046725-1.

Further reading

Military offices
Preceded by
Ivar Holmquist		 Chief of the Army
1944–1948 		Succeeded by
Carl August Ehrensvärd
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