James Duff, 5th Earl Fife, (6 July 1814 – 7 August 1879) was a Scottish nobleman and politician.

Early life

Duff was the son of Sir Alexander Duff, younger brother of James Duff, 4th Earl Fife, and Anne Stein, the daughter of James Stein of Kilbagie and Kennetpans House.

Career

He was Member of Parliament for Banffshire from 1837 to 1857; his brother, George Skene Duff, was Member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs. He succeeded as the 5th Earl Fife, 5th Baron Braco of Kilbryde, and 5th Viscount MacDuff on 9 March 1857, and inherited many baronies including MacDuff, named for James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife. He was also created Baron Skene, of Skene, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, on 26 September 1857 in his own right, which allowed him to sit and vote in the House of Lords. He was appointed Knight of the Order of the Thistle (K.T.) in 1860. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the counties of Banff and Moray.

Personal life

In 1845, Duff resided at 30 Pall Mall, London and at Delgatie Castle. On 16 March 1846, he married Lady Agnes Georgiana Elizabeth Hay, daughter of William Hay, 18th Earl of Erroll and Lady Elizabeth FitzClarence (an illegitimate daughter of William IV). Together, they were the parents of five children, including: Lord Fife died on 7 August 1879.

Ancestry