This portrait of John, Duke of Lauderdale, was commissioned in 1740 by the Right Honorable Earl of Drysart and purchased by my Uncle at an auction based solely on how old it is. My Aunt wouldn’t let him hang it up in the house, so it sat in his basement for years until it was given to me last night, provided I hang it over my desk.

There is no longer a Duke of Lauderdale, historically it was an Earldom which was converted to a Duchy during the Cromwellian wars and reverted back afterwards. John up there was the only one to hold the title.

And with that I declare Big General Re-established. Standard Forum rules apply, don’t treat it like a chatroom, try to keep your posts to once a day. I turn over policing to my colleague Ffish, Lord of Broodington and Marquis de GD.