 Douglas @-@ Home was born in Mayfair , London , the first of seven children of Lord Dunglass ( the eldest son of the 12th Earl of Home ) and his wife , the Lady Lilian Lambton ( daughter of The 4th Earl of Durham ) . The boy 's first name was customarily abbreviated to " Alec " . Among the couple 's younger children was the playwright William Douglas @-@ Home . 
