Alexander (Seton) Seton First Earl of Dunfermline (abt. 1555 - abt. 1622)

Biography

Alexander (Seton) Seton First Earl of Dunfermline is a member of Clan Seton.

Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline was born in 1555, the son of George Seton, 5th Lord Seton and Isabel Hamilton. ^[1]

He was given his name by Queen Mary, his Godmother, who also gave him the lands of Pluscalie, in Murray.

He father sent him to Rome when he was young, with the intention of him becoming a churchman. He studied at the Roman Jesuit college where he excelled. ^[1] He presented a reading of his own work, De Ascensione Domini, to Pope Gregory the 13th, the cardinal and other prelates in the Pope's chapel in the Vatican and was well received. He was held in great esteem in Rome for his learning, being a great humanist in prose and poetry, in Greek and Latin, he was well versed in mathematics and had skill in architecture and heraldry. If he stayed in Rome it was expected that he would be a Cardinal.

He left Rome and studied law in France before returning to Scotland. He presented his knowledge of the law before King James the Sixth, the senators of the college of justice and advocates in the chapel royal of Hollyrood House wearing his law gown and four nooked hat, as was the custom in European Universities, and received great applause. He was received by the college of justice as a lawyer and after some years he was made president of the session and lord Fyvie of parliament. When the chancellor, the Earl of Montrose, died Alexander was made lord high chancellor of Scotland.

He acquired the lands of Fyvie, a considerable salmon fishing in Spey and other lands in Murry, the Lordship of Dalgatie in Fife, with some considerable lands in the Lordship of Dunfermline. He acquired the lands of Pinkie, where he built a noble house with stone dykes around the garden and orchard.

He married his first wife, Lilias Drummond, daughter of Patrick Drummond, 3rd Lord Drummond and Lady Elizabeth Lindsay, sometime between 1590 to 1 July 1592,^[2] also called Lady Isobell Drummond, eldest daughter of the Earl of Perth, and had five daughters.^[3] The eldest, Lady Anne married Lord Fentoun, son of the Earl of Kellie, the second daughter, Lady Isobel married the Earl of Lauderdale, the only son of Chancellor Maitland, Lord Thirlstone, the third daughter, Margaret, died young; the fourth daughter, another Margaret, married the Earl of Seaforth and later Lord Duffus. the fifth daughter, Sophia, married the first Lord Ballcarres.^[3]

Alexander's second wife was Lady Grisell Leslie daughter of James Leslie, Master of Rothes and Margaret Lindsay, circa 27 October 1601,^[2] they had a daughter, Jean, who married Lord Yester.^[3]

Alexander's third wife, he married by contact Lady Margaret Hay, daughter of James Hay, 7th Lord Hay of Yester and Lady Margaret Kerr, on 15 November 1607,^[2][4] sister of Lord Yester, they had one son, Charles who succeeded him and a daughter Grisell who lived to a good age but refused to marry although she had many noble suitors.

When King James and Queen Ann went to England they left their second son, Charles, who was not yet 3 years old, in the care of Alexander. He looked after the boy for three years then travelled by land with the boy to return him to the King and Queen's majesties.

He held the office of Prior of Pluscarden between 1565 and 1577. He held the office of Prior of Pluscarden in 1581. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor in Scotland in 1585. He held the office of Lord of Session Extraordinary from 1585/86 to 1587/88. He was styled as Lord Urquhart between 1588 and 1593. He held the office of Lord of Session between 1588 and 1593. He held the office of Lord President of the Court of Session [Scotland] between 1593 and 1605. He held the office of Lord Provost of Edinburgh between 1598 and 1608. He was created 1st Lord Fyvie [Scotland] on 4 March 1597/98, with a special remainder to his next elder brother, John. He held the office of Lord Chancellor for Scotland between 1605 and 1622.^{[5] [1]} He was created 1st Earl of Dunfermline [Scotland] on 4 March 1605. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor in 1609. ^[1]

In his will he left George Seton, Earl of Winton, his nephew, as sole tutor to his son Charles, Earl of Dunfermline. He died in April 1622 at the age of 67at Pinkie and was buried in the family vault in Dalgety Church, near Dunfermline in May.^[6] Charles, his sister and all their servants then lived with George for four years at which time he inherited the bulk of his fathers estates.

Children of Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline and Lilias Drummond

1. Lady Sophia Seton+^[5]
2. Lady Anne Seton+^[7]
3. Lady Margaret Seton+^[8]
4. Lady Isabel Seton+^[1] b. 1 Aug 1594, d. 2 Nov 1638

Children of Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline and Grizel Leslie^[3]

1. Charles.^[3]
2. Lilias.^[3]
3. Jean Seton+^[1] d. 21 Aug 1625

Child of Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline and Hon. Margaret Hay

1. Charles Seton, 2nd Earl of Dunfermline+^[1] b. Nov 1615, d. c 11 May 1672
2. Grizzel.^[3]
3. Mary.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1285.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume IV, page 532.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} The Scots Peerage; Balfour Paul; Vol 3; page 372
4. ↑ Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 3, page 3960
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume I, page 376.
6. ↑ Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume II, page 489.
7. ↑ Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume III, page 50.
8. ↑ Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume I, Page 205.

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