In 1701, prior to the Union of Scotland and England, Douglas had been able to return himself as one of Roxburghshire's four Commissioners to the Scottish Parliament.
In his electoral capacity, he consistently opposed the Roxburghe interest both in the Scottish and British Parliaments.
Repeated successes prompted his son William to remark with pardonable exaggeration in 1712 that "you have it in your hands to make the Member for the county.
She was only released permanently in December 1684, when, upon being given the choice of conforming or leaving the country, she took up residence in England.
The family's status naturally revived with the Revolution, whereupon the heritable jurisdiction of Roxburghshire was restored.