As a result of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, many in both Scotland and England viewed standing armies as a threat to individual liberty and society itself.
Those who wanted a military career joined units in foreign service, such as the Dutch Scots Brigade; loyalties were often based on religion or personal relationships, with officers moving between armies.
Douglas' younger brother John (1647–1675) was killed at Trier with the French army, while Robert (1650-1676) died serving with the Dutch at Maastricht.

In the 1670 Treaty of Dover, Charles II signed an alliance with Louis XIV against the Dutch Republic.
Charles also agreed to supply the French army with a brigade of 6,000 men; in a secret provision not revealed until 1771, Louis agreed to pay him £230,000 per year for this.

On the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672, James Douglas was appointed Captain in Sir William Lockhart's Regiment, which formed part of the expeditionary force for a proposed landing in the Dutch Republic.
When this plan was cancelled in 1673, Lockhart's joined the rest of the Brigade in the Rhineland, under the command of the Duke of Monmouth, Charles' illegitimate son.
However, the alliance with Catholic France was deeply unpopular and England withdrew from the war with the 1674 Treaty of Westminster.

The Franco-Dutch War continued and to keep his French subsidies, Charles encouraged members of the Brigade to remain in French service; others enrolled in the Dutch Scots Brigade, including Douglas and a fellow officer in Lockhart's Regiment, John Graham, later Viscount Dundee.
Despite the name, the Scots Brigade normally contained several English regiments, withdrawn in 1672 then restored in 1674.
One of these was Colyear's Regiment, which Douglas joined along with his brother Robert; a Lieutenant-Colonel when the war ended in August 1678, he was promoted Colonel in March 1680.

Douglas was in Scotland during the 1679 Covenanter rebellion, and took part in the Battle of Bothwell Bridge that ended it.
As a reward, he was granted the lands of Patrick Murdock of Cumloden, one of those convicted for their participation, later tconfirmed in April 1685.

Scottish politics was dominated by Douglas' elder brother, the Marquess of Queensberry, who was appointed Treasurer of Scotland in 1682.
To offset his rival Dundee, then military commander in Scotland, Queensberry needed a reliable subordinate; in June 1684, he persuaded the Earl of Linlithgow to step aside as Colonel of the Scots Footguards in favour of his younger brother, who returned to Scotland permanently.

He played an active role in the suppression of Argyll's Rising; the Tweedsmuir cemetery contains a memorial to John Hunter, cruelly murdered at Core Head by Col.
James Douglas and his party for his adherence to the Word of God and Scotland’s Covenanted Work of Reformation 1685.
In October, William Drummond, Viscount Strathallan was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Scotland, with James as Master-General of the Ordnance.

James II succeeded Charles in April 1685 with widespread support in both countries; the religious conflicts of the 17th century meant most Scots saw both dissident Presbyterians and Catholics as threats and opposed 'tolerance' for either, one reason why Argyll's Rising collapsed so quickly in June 1685.
After Strathallan died in March 1688, Douglas assumed the position of Commander-in-Chief but it is not clear whether he was ever officially appointed as such and operational control was largely exercised by Dundee.

In 1685, many supported James from fear of civil war if he were bypassed; by July 1688, anti-Catholic riots made it seem only his removal could prevent one.
Just before the 1688 Glorious Revolution, the Scottish army was brought south to join the rest of James' forces in England.
After William III of England landed in Brixham on 5 November, his troops deserted and he went into exile on 23 December.
 
In March, 1689, James II launched the 1689–1691 Williamite War in Ireland; Douglas joined the army in Ireland and was replaced as Commander in Scotland by Sir Hugh M
As a result of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, many in both Scotland and England viewed standing armies as a threat to individual liberty and society itself. Those who wanted a military career joined units in foreign service, such as the Dutch Scots Brigade; loyalties were often based on religion or personal relationships, with officers moving between armies. Douglas' younger brother John (1647–1675) was killed at Trier with the French army, while Robert (1650-1676) died serving with the Dutch at Maastricht.
In the 1670 Treaty of Dover, Charles II signed an alliance with Louis XIV against the Dutch Republic. Charles also agreed to supply the French army with a brigade of 6,000 men; in a secret provision not revealed until 1771, Louis agreed to pay him £230,000 per year for this.
On the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672, James Douglas was appointed Captain in Sir William Lockhart's Regiment, which formed part of the expeditionary force for a proposed landing in the Dutch Republic. When this plan was cancelled in 1673, Lockhart's joined the rest of the Brigade in the Rhineland, under the command of the Duke of Monmouth, Charles' illegitimate son. However, the alliance with Catholic France was deeply unpopular and England withdrew from the war with the 1674 Treaty of Westminster.
The Franco-Dutch War continued and to keep his French subsidies, Charles encouraged members of the Brigade to remain in French service; others enrolled in the Dutch Scots Brigade, including Douglas and a fellow officer in Lockhart's Regiment, John Graham, later Viscount Dundee. Despite the name, the Scots Brigade normally contained several English regiments, withdrawn in 1672 then restored in 1674. One of these was Colyear's Regiment, which Douglas joined along with his brother Robert; a Lieutenant-Colonel when the war ended in August 1678, he was promoted Colonel in March 1680.
Douglas was in Scotland during the 1679 Covenanter rebellion, and took part in the Battle of Bothwell Bridge that ended it. As a reward, he was granted the lands of Patrick Murdock of Cumloden, one of those convicted for their participation, later tconfirmed in April 1685.
Scottish politics was dominated by Douglas' elder brother, the Marquess of Queensberry, who was appointed Treasurer of Scotland in 1682. To offset his rival Dundee, then military commander in Scotland, Queensberry needed a reliable subordinate; in June 1684, he persuaded the Earl of Linlithgow to step aside as Colonel of the Scots Footguards in favour of his younger brother, who returned to Scotland permanently. 
He played an active role in the suppression of Argyll's Rising; the Tweedsmuir cemetery contains a memorial to John Hunter, cruelly murdered at Core Head by Col. James Douglas and his party for his adherence to the Word of God and Scotland’s Covenanted Work of Reformation 1685. In October, William Drummond, Viscount Strathallan was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Scotland, with James as Master-General of the Ordnance.
James II succeeded Charles in April 1685 with widespread support in both countries; the religious conflicts of the 17th century meant most Scots saw both dissident Presbyterians and Catholics as threats and opposed 'tolerance' for either, one reason why Argyll's Rising collapsed so quickly in June 1685. After Strathallan died in March 1688, Douglas assumed the position of Commander-in-Chief but it is not clear whether he was ever officially appointed as such and operational control was largely exercised by Dundee.
In 1685, many supported James from fear of civil war if he were bypassed; by July 1688, anti-Catholic riots made it seem only his removal could prevent one. Just before the 1688 Glorious Revolution, the Scottish army was brought south to join the rest of James' forces in England. After William III of England landed in Brixham on 5 November, his troops deserted and he went into exile on 23 December.  
In March, 1689, James II launched the 1689–1691 Williamite War in Ireland; Douglas joined the army in Ireland and was replaced as Commander in Scotland by Sir Hugh M
James Douglas (English Army officer)