Alexander (Cunningham) Cunningham First Earl of Glencairn (abt. 1425 - 1488)

Born about 1425 in Kilmaurs, Dumfries, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 11 Jun 1488 at about age 63 in Glencairn, Dumfries, Scotland

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Biography

Alexander (Cunningham) Cunningham First Earl of Glencairn is a member of Clan Cunningham.

Sir Alexander (Cunningham) Cunningham First Earl of Glencairn was Killed in Action during Battle of Sauchieburn.

Alexander was born about 1425. Sir Alexander Cunningham passed away in 1488.

Sir Alexander Cunningham of Kilmarus was the Lord of Kilmaurs when he granted the friars, preachers of Glasgow, four and a half merks, as a yearly sum, in March of 1450. This was acquired from the lands of Finlaystoun on behalf of his grandparents. ^[1]

• Montgomery-Cunningham Feud:
  • In 1448 The title of Bailie of Cunninghame that belonged to Sir Robert Cunningham was granted to Sir Alexander Montgomery, his brother-in-law, instead. This event spiked already tense emotions and the Montgomery-Cunningham Feud was started.
  • During this timeframe, 1452 to 1455, Sir Alexander Cunningham assisted King James II in the defeat of the Douglas'. For his service he is granted the Barony of Kilmaurs, along with the lands of Kilmarnock, Hilton, Finlaystone and Glencairn.

• 18 Jul 1452 Sir Alexander Cunningham of Kilmaurs was in the tent of the Lord Chancellor of Scotland, at that time was Crichton, resigned his lands of Kilmaurs, Kilmaronok in Sterling, Finlaystoun in Renfrew, Glencairn in Dumfires, and Hilton in Berwick. That same day, the King granted the lands back to Alexander and his heirs. The portion of Glencairn where the Kilmaurs Parish stood was to be called Kilmaurs and was considered a free barony. ^[2] This act was witnessed by Alan Lord Cathcart^[3]

• 1458 - Bailie of Cunningham is granted to Sir Alexander Cunningham.

• 8 Feb 1462 King James III declared the innocence of Sir Alexander Cunningham of rumors that he was a traitor by having dealings with the Earl of Douglas. It is in this letter that King James bestowed that title of Earl of Kilmarus upon Sir Alexander.^[4]

• Sir Alexander sat in Parliament as Lord Kilmaurs 1464 to 1488. It was in 1488 that nobles of Scotland rebelled against the current King in favor of his son. Lord Kilmaurs, Sir Alexander Cunningham, was very powerful and brought his forces to aid his King, the father. He was defeated at the Battle of Blackness and in return for his service he is granted the title of Earl of Glencairn, by royal charter.^[5]

• 28 May 1488 Became Earl of Glencairn by Letters of Patten signed by King James III of Scotland.^[6]

He was successful in defeating an uprising against King James III at the Battle of Blackness 1488. Sir Alexander was killed in the Battle of Sauchieburn along with King James in an attempt to recapture the castle at Stirling that was occupied by the English Army.

He married Margaret, daughter of Adam Hepurn, Lord of Hailes.^[7] They had four sons:

1. Robert, 2nd Lord Kilmaurs
2. William of Craigends
3. Alexander
4. Edward

Sources

1. ↑ Paul - Peerage Vol. IV: p. 232 Predicatorum de Glasyu.
2. ↑ Paul - Peerage Vol. IV: pp. 232-4
3. ↑ Metcalfe: p. 92
4. ↑ Paul - Peerage Vol. IV: pp. 232-4
5. ↑ Paul - Peerage Vol. IV]]: p. 233 Kilkerran Family Papers
6. ↑ Anderson - Scottish Nation Vol II: p. 310
7. ↑ Paul - Peerage Vol. IV: p. 234

• Anderson, WIlliam, "The Scottish Nation; or. The surnames, families, literature, honours, and biographical history of the people of Scotland", London: A. Fullerton & Co., 1878, Vol. II

• Metcalfe, William Musham, "A History of the County of Renfrew from the Earliest Times", Renfrewshire: A. Gardner, 1905

• Paul, James Balfour "The Scots Peerage founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom", Edinburgh: David Douglas,1907, Vol. IV
• The Peerage: Alexander Cunninghame

See also:

• Wikipedia: Alexander_Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn

• Wikidata: Item Q4718672, en:Wikipedia

• Clan MacFarlane: Alexander Cunynghame [Cunningham, of Kilmaurs, 1st Earl of Glencairn]

• Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 1-20,22,