In 1918, he succeeded his uncle as chairman of the armament firm Vickers Ltd. and served in that role until 1926 making "many valuable contributions to metallurgical science and provided funds for the investigation of new treatments for tuberculosis."[2] He retired in 1926 when the firm merged with Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd. to become Vickers Armstrongs, Ltd.[2]
In 1893, Vickers was married to Katharine Adelaide Chetwynd (1862–1944), a daughter of Capt. Hon. Henry Weyland Chetwynd and a granddaughter of Richard Chetwynd, 6th Viscount Chetwynd. Katharine's brother later succeeded as the 8th Viscount Chetwynd. Together, Douglas and Katharine were the parents of four children:
Oliver Henry Douglas (1898–1928), who married Barbara Kathleen Wallace, a daughter of Falconer Lewis Wallace, DL.[3]
Felicity Ida Vickers (1901–1901), who died in infancy.
Sholto Douglas Vickers (1902–1939), who married Princess Olga Alexandrovna Galitzine.[4]
Angus Douglas Vickers (1904–1990), a Lt. Col. in the British Army who married Phyllis Maud Francis.[5]
