{{Short description|British racing driver and baronet}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox racing driver | name = James Scott Douglas | image = | caption = | alias = | nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British | birth_date = {{birth date|1930|10|24|df=y}} | birth_place = Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England | death_date = {{death date and age|1969|7|16|1930|10|24|df=y}} | | death_place = Cheshire, England }}

'''Sir James Louis Fitzroy Scott Douglas, 6th Baronet''' (24 October 1930 &ndash; 16 July 1969) was a British racing driver and a baronet.<ref>GRO Register of Births: DEC 1930 5a 76 MALMESBURY - James L F S Douglas, mmn=Wiltshire</ref>

==Early life and baronetcy== He was born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. He succeeded his great uncle, Sir George Brisbane Scott Douglas, the 5th Baronet, who died in 1935 unmarried and without heirs, to the title ''6th Baronet Douglas, of Springwood Park''. James never resided at the family home of five generations, Springwood Park, near Kelso, Scottish Borders.<ref name=Mosley>Charles Mosley, “Burke’s Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage" (Burke’s Peerage (Genealogical Books), {{ISBN|978-1-579580834}}, 1999)</ref>

He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire,<ref name=Mosley/> before serving with the 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars, where he gained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.<ref name=Mosley/><ref name="voyageofthevampire.org.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.voyageofthevampire.org.uk/?page_id=404|title=Voyage of the Vampire: The extraordinary travels of the adventurer George Henry Douglas Scott » Douglas Family History|publisher=|access-date=2016-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907065304/http://www.voyageofthevampire.org.uk/?page_id=404|archive-date=2015-09-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> He gained the rank of Lieutenant whilst serving with the Lothians and Border Horse.<ref name="voyageofthevampire.org.uk"/>

==Racing driver== James was a competent racing driver mainly between 1952 and 1954, but suffered from a congenital disorder, which made it difficult for him to keep his weight down.<ref name="douglashistory.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/jamesdouglas13.htm|title=Sir James Louis Fitzroy Scott Douglas, Living 1935|publisher=}}</ref> Despite that, he raced in 1952 for Ecurie Ecosse in his own Jaguar XK120,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/results/James-Scott%20Douglas-GB.html|title=James Scott Douglas (GB) - All Results - Racing Sports Cars|publisher=}}</ref> recording a number of good results, including a third place in the Grand Prix de Reims <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Reims-1952-06-29-2077.html|title=GP Reims|publisher=}}</ref> and a sixth place in the British Empire Trophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Douglas-1952-05-29-6605.html|title=British Empire Trophy|publisher=}}</ref>

When the team switched to Jaguar C-Types, Scott Douglas needed to obtain one to remain at Ecurie Ecosse. However, all UK orders had been taken up, so he used his influence and brought an ‘export’ version from France for the 1953 season. He used this car to score his only victory, an unlimited national event at Castle Combe,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Castle_Combe-1953-04-25-8642.html|title=National Castle Combe [Unlimited]|publisher=}}</ref> as well as his greatest racing achievement, when partnered by Guy Gale, he finished second in the 24 Heures de Spa Francorchamps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Spa-1953-07-26.html|title=Spa 24 Hours|publisher=}}</ref>

During the 1954 season, it became clear to James, that he was spending his inheritance too quickly, so he decided to move to Argentina and become a farmer. After he was left another inheritance, he returned to Britain to resume his hedonistic lifestyle. By now, he had tired of motor sport, and sold his C-Type and retired from racing.<ref name="douglashistory.co.uk"/> After spending his second inheritance, he worked for the ''Daily Express'' newspaper selling advertising space, and auctioned the contents of Springwood Park, leaving the house to decay until it was demolished.<ref name="voyageofthevampire.org.uk"/><ref name="douglashistory.co.uk"/>

==Death== Sir James Louis Fitzroy Scott Douglas died at the age of 38 in Bucklow, Cheshire.<ref>Civil Registration Death Index, General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 10a; p. 356</ref> Upon his death, his baronetcy became extinct.<ref name=Mosley/>

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==Racing record==

===Career highlights===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! Season ! Series ! Position ! Team ! Car |- | 1952 | GP Reims <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Reims-1952-06-29-2077.html|title=GP Reims|publisher=}}</ref> | style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3rd | Ecurie Ecosse | Jaguar XK120 |- | | Wakefield Trophy <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Curragh-1952-09-06-6690.html|title=Wakefield Trophy [Formula Libre]|publisher=}}</ref> | style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3rd | | Jaguar XK120 |- | 1953 | 24 Heures de Spa Francorchamps <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Spa-1953-07-26.html|title=Spa 24 Hours|publisher=}}</ref> | style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd | Ecurie Ecosse | Jaguar C-Type |- | 1954 | Zandvoort International <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Zandvoort-1954-08-15-4799.html|title=Zandvoort International [S+2.0]|publisher=}}</ref> | style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd | Ecurie Ecosse | Jaguar C-Type |- |}

===Complete 24 Hours of Spa results=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |- ! Year ! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class<br />Pos.|Class Position}} |- align="center" ! 1953 |align="left"| {{Flagicon|GBR}} Ecurie Ecosse |align="left"| {{Flagicon|GBR}} Guy Gale |align="left"| Jaguar C-Type | S | 242 | style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd | style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd |- align="center" |}

===Complete 12 Hours of Reims results=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |- ! Year ! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class<br />Pos.|Class Position}} |- align="center" ! 1953 |align="left"| {{Flagicon|GBR}} Ecurie Ecosse |align="left"| {{Flagicon|GBR}} Ninian Sanderson |align="left"| Jaguar C-Type | S+2..0 | style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd | style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd |- align="center" |}

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

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{{s-reg|gb-bt}} {{s-bef| before= George Brisbane Scott Douglas }} {{s-ttl | title = Baronet <br /> '''(of Maxwell)''' | years = 1935–1969 }} {{s-non|reason=Extinct}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott Douglas, James}} Category:Sportspeople from Malmesbury Category:1930 births Category:1969 deaths Category:24 Hours of Spa drivers Category:12 Hours of Reims drivers 406 Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers Category:English racing drivers Category:Scottish racing drivers Category:20th-century English sportsmen