Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie, PC, KC, FRS, FRSE, FSA (24 May 1743 – 2 May 1823) was a British lawyer and politician. He was Chief Secretary for Ireland between 1793 and 1794.
He was asked to accompany Earl Macartney to the Cape of Good Hope in 1796 and, after 18 months there, to succeed him as governor. His wife did not like the idea and he declined the offer, even though an Irish peerage had also been offered.[12] In 1797 Douglas was made a Lord of the Treasury by Pitt,[13] In 1800 Douglas was asked for a second time to go to the Cape as governor.[14] He finally agreed in October 1800, again for an Irish peerage and was so appointed Governor of the Cape of Good Hope,[15] Douglas changed his mind again and accepted a post as Joint Paymaster of HM Forces, subsequently receiving £2731. 10s. in salary, paid from the Cape Treasury, even though he never went there.[16] At the end of the year on 29 November 1800 he was created Baron Glenbervie, of Kincardine, in Scotland.[17]
In 1789 Lord Glenbervie married Lady Catherine Anne, eldest daughter of Frederick North, Lord North.[21] Their only son Frederick Douglas sat as Member of Parliament for Banbury between 1812 and his early death in 1819.[22] Lady Glenbervie died in February 1817, aged 56. Glenbervie survived her by six years and died in May 1823, aged 79. As he had no surviving male issue the barony became extinct on his death.[21] His library was sold by R. H. Evans in London in two parts, on 13 June 1823 (and seven following days) and 5 July 1823 (and six following days; copies of the catalogue are at Cambridge University Library (shelfmark Munby.c.126(11) and Munby.c.126(13)).
