| Alexander (Gordon) Gordon Third Earl of Huntly was a prominent member of a Scottish Clan. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland |
| Magna Carta Surety Baron Descendant (see text). Join: Magna Carta Project Discuss: magna_carta |
Preceded by George Gordon |
Third Earl of Huntly |
Succeeded by George Gordon |
Contents |
Alexander Gordon was the son of George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly and, probably, his third wife Elizabeth Hay.[1][2][3] (See Research Notes below.) His birth date is uncertain.
On 20 October 1474 Alexander was contracted to marry Jean Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, Earl of Atholl.[1][2][3] When they actually married is uncertain. They had the following children:
Alexander's first wife Jean died on 27 October 1510. Alexander married again, after 27 July 1511, has second wife being Elizabeth Gray, daughter of Andrew Gray (2nd Lord Gray) and his first wife Janet Keith, and widow of John Lyon, 4th Lord Glamis.[1][2][3] They had no children.[5]
Alexander succeeded his father as Earl of Huntly in 1501.[5][6] That year he made lieutenant (royal deputy) over much of Northern Scotland. From 1502 to 1506 he helped to suppress rebellions in the Scottish Isles.[5] In 1503 he was one of the witnesses to James IV's marriage contract.[2][3] James IV rewarded him with extensive lands, and by making him Sheriff of Aberdeen and Inverness.[1]
On 9 September 1513 Alexander was commander of a battalion in the Battle of Flodden, where James IV and many of the Scottish nobility died. He himself escaped with his life.[1][5]
In 1517 Alexander was made one of the Vice-Regents during the minority of James V.[1][2][3][5] The next year he was given the lieutenancy of all Scotland except the area controlled by the Earl of Argyll.[1][5]
From 1520 ill-health reduced his capacity to play an active part in public affairs or the government of the realm.[5] In December 1521, though, he was fit enough to be one of those for whom the Duke of Albany asked Henry VIII of England to grant safe conduct for negotiations for peace between Scotland and England.[7]
Alexander died at Perth on 21 January 1523/4. He was buried at the church of the Dominican Friars in Perth.[1][2][3]
Before 5 June 1525 his widow Elizabeth married again, her third husband being George Leslie.[1][2][3]
There has been disagreement about whether Alexander's mother was his father's second wife Annabella Stewart or his third wife Elizabeth Hay.
Wikipedia[8] and Cracroft's Peerage[9] opt for Annabella Stewart. Douglas Richardson gives Elizabeth Hay as Alexander's mother.[2][3]
Marjory Gordon has previously been shown on Wikitree as a daughter of Alexander Gordon and Jean Stewart. No good evidence has been found for this.
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G > Gordon | G > Gordon Third Earl of Huntly > Alexander (Gordon) Gordon Third Earl of Huntly
Categories: Battle of Flodden | Scotland, Notables | Clare-651 Descendants | Clare-673 Descendants | Scotland Project Managed Clan Profiles | Magna Carta | Clan Gordon | Notables | Magna Carta Trail Profiles Managed by the Scotland Project
I have proposed merges of the three profiles of his second wife.