William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale

Who was William Johnstone, 1st Marquess of Annandale?

William Johnstone, 2nd Earl of Annandale and Hartfell, 1st Marquess of Annandale KT was a Scottish nobleman. He was the son of James Johnstone, 1st Earl of Hartfell and Henrietta Douglas. He succeeded to the Earldom of Annandale and Hartfell on the death of his father in 1672.

He was a friend of Monmouth and nominally supported Revolution, but joined "The Club" of Jacobite malcontents and was imprisoned in connection with Montgomery plot. He was restored to favour on making confession and was created an Extraordinary Lord of Session in 1693, and a Lord of the Treasury. He received a pension for services in connection with Glencoe inquiry.

He was created Marquess of Annandale in 1701, Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1701 and 1711, Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1702, and president of the Privy Council of Scotland from 1692 to 1695, 1702-4 and 1705-6. He was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in 1704, joint Secretary of State from March–September 1705.

He opposed the Union, but later served as a representative peer from 1709-13. He was Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland from 1714-16.