Viscount of Oxfuird is a title in thePeerage of Scotland. It was created in 1651 forSir James Makgill with remainder to his "heirs male of tailzie and provision whomsoever" He had already been created a baronet, of Makgill, in theBaronetage of Nova Scotia on 19 July 1625, with remainder to heirs male whatsoever.
"The remainder toheirs male whatsoever" was a Scottish concept that permitted inheritance by persons not descended from the original grantee, but descended in the male line from male-line ancestors of the grantee.
However, on the death of the first Viscount's son, the second Viscount, the Lordship and Viscountcy were assumed wrongfully[1] by his daughter Christian, as heir of tailzie and provision. Her son Robert Maitland Makgill also voted asViscount of Oxfuird at the election ofScottish representative peer in 1733.
However, according to a decision by the Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords in 1977 the rightful heir to the Baronetcy, Lordship and Viscountcy was the second Viscount's kinsman David Makgill, thede jure third Viscount of Oxfuird (d. 1717). He was the eldest son of Sir James Makgill (d. 1661), grandson of Sir James Makgill (d. 1579), great-uncle of the first Viscount of Oxfuird. His son, the fourth Viscount, attempted to prove his claim, but was unsuccessful. Thereafter, the matter was generally left alone.
However, according to the decision by the Committee for Privileges, the rightful descent of the titles was to have been as follows. On the death of the fourth Viscount the claim passed to his kinsman John Makgill, thede jure fifth Viscount. He was the grandson of Reverend John Makgill, third son of the aforementioned Sir James Makgill (d. 1661). His younger son George Makgill, thede jure seventh Viscount, fought in the Jacobite army ofBonnie Prince Charles, was attainted but later pardoned. His great-grandson John Makgill, thede jure tenth Viscount, resumed the claim to the Baronetcy, Lordship and Viscountcy. Shortly after his death in 1906 the matter was resolved in his favour in regard to the Baronetcy, but the Lordship and Viscountcy still remained dormant. Consequently, his son George Makgill, thede jure eleventh Viscount, did become the eleventh Baronet, of Makgill. He continued to petition for the revival of the lordship and viscountcy.
However, it was not until 1977, 51 years after his father's death that his son Sir Donald Makgill, 12th Baronet, of Makgill, had the claim admitted by the Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords and was issued with awrit of summons to the House of Lords as the twelfth Viscount of Oxfuird.
His nephew, the thirteenth Viscount, was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords and was until his death in 2003 one of the ninety electedhereditary peers that were allowed to remain in the House of Lords after the passing of theHouse of Lords Act 1999. He was succeeded by his eldest twin son. As of 2022[update] he is the present holder of the titles.
Holders of the title often style themselves, technically incorrectly, as 'Viscount Oxfuird', although the correct form 'Viscountof Oxfuird' is also used.
The title of the Viscountcy is pronounced "Oxfurd". The Viscounts' seat was the originalOxenfoord Castle in Midlothian, built by the MakGills in the 16th century.[2]
The Viscount of Oxfuird is the hereditaryClan Chief ofClan Makgill.
The following wrongfully denied their titles:
The following was denied the viscountcy but acknowledged as baronet:
The following were acknowledged as lord and viscount only in 1977
Theheir apparent is the present holder's son the Hon. Max George Samuel Makgill, Master of Oxfuird (b. 2012).[3]
