Earl of Orkney, and a brave warrior, was the fifth son of William earl of Selkirk, and early betook himself to the profession of arms. Being made colonel in 1689-1690, he distinguished himself by his bravery at the battle of the Boyne; and soon afterwards at those of Aghrim, Steinkirk, and Landen, and at the sieges of Athlone, Limerick, and Namur. His eminent services in Ireland and Flanders, through the whole course of the war, recommended him so highly to King William III. that, in 1696, he advanced him to the dignity of peer of Scotland, by the title of Earl of Orkney; and his lady, the sister of Edward Viscount Villiers, afterwards Earl of Jersey, had a grant made to her, under the great seal of Ireland, of almost all the private estates of King James, which were of any considerable value. Upon the accession of Queen Anne to the throne, he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and, in the year 1703, to that of lieutenant-general, and was likewise made knight of the Thistle. His lordship afterwards served under John duke of Marlborough, and contributed by his bravery and conduct to the glorious victories of Blenheim and Malplaquet, and to the taking of several towns in Flanders. In the beginning of 1710, his lordship, as one of the sixteen peers of Scotland, voted for the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell; and the same year he was sworn of the privy council, and made general of infantry in Flanders. In 1712, he was appointed colonel of the royal regiment of fusiliers, and served in Flanders under the Duke of Ormond. In 1714, he was made gentleman-extraordinary of the bed-chamber to King George I. and afterwards governor of Virginia. At length he was appointed constable, governor, and captain of Edinburgh Castle, lord-lieutenant of the county of Clydesdale, and field-marshal. He died at his house in Albemarle Street in the year 1737.