POLWARTH, Baron, a title in the peerage of Scotland, conferred 26th December, 1690, on the distinguished statesman and patriot, Sir Patrick Hume, who, on 23d April 1697, was raised to the higher dignity of earl of Marchmont. The Polwarth peerage was in remainder to the heirs male of his body, and failing these to the heirs general of such heirs male. The title, with that of earl of Marchmont, became dormant on the death of the third earl, 10th January 1794. His youngest daughter, Lady Diana Hume, married Walter Scott of Harden, Berwickshire, M.P., who died 25th January 1793. She was the only one of the earl’s three daughters who left surviving issue. Their only son, Hugh Scott of Harden, succeeded, in 1835, in establishing his claim to the title of Lord Polwarth, before the House of Lords, and thus became fourth Lord Polwarth. He married the daughter of Hans Morits, Count von Bruhl, Saxon minister in England, and died Dec. 28, 1841, aged 83. His son, Henry Francis Hepburne-Scott, born Jan. 1, 1800, succeeded as 5th Baron Polwarth. In 1843 he was elected one of the 16 representative Scots peers, and in 1845 was appointed lord-lieutenant and sheriff-principal of Selkirkshire. In 1835 he married Georgina, 3d daughter of George Baillie of Jerviswoode and Mellerstain, with issue, 2 sons and 3 daughters. His elder son, Walter Hugh, master of Polwarth, was born Nov. 30, 1838.

His lordship assumed the additional surname of Hepburne, in consequence of the estates of the Hepburnes of Humbie having descended to him through Helen Hepburne, countess of Tarras, his great-great-grandmother. Lord Polwarth is twelfth baron of Harden, representative of the Scotts of Synton, and twenty-second in lineal male descent from Uchtred Fitz-Scott, who flourished in the reign of David I. By the failure of the male heirs of Sir Robert Scott of Murdochstone, from whom derives the ducal house of Buccleuch, the chieftainship of all the Scotts in Scotland, devolves on Lord Polwarth, both families being descended from sons of Sir Michael Scott, who was killed in 1346.