Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott was born on 30 December 1894 the son of John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch and Lady Margaret Alice "Molly" Bridgeman, the daughter of George Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford and Lady Ida Annabella Frances Lumley.

His sister, Alice, married Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (one of the paternal uncles of Queen Elizabeth II) in 1935, becoming a member of the British Royal Family.

Montagu Douglas Scott was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, and had a military career commanding the 4th King's Own Scottish Borderers.

Harold Macmillan, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies replied to his complaints by suggesting that the problem was more the extreme cold the Hondurans encountered and was quite different from their tropical homeland.

They have three children, sixteen grandchildren, forty-four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren:[citation needed] He died on 4 October 1973 and was buried among the ruins of Melrose Abbey.