Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray
Encyclopedia
Sir Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray KT
(May 8, 1634 – November 1, 1701), was a Scottish nobleman who remained loyal to Roman Catholic James VII of Scotland (James II of England).
to the Earldom of Moray
on 4 March 1653. In 1654 he was under Cromwell's Act of Grace
fined £3,500 which was reduced to £1,166 13s., but in January 1656 he presented a petition for the remission of his fine, because he "was a child during the late differences", and because his estate was "small and much charged". On 22 January 1657 it was ordered that, on his giving security to the Council of Scotland to pay £500. before 1 February 1658, the residue of his fine should be remitted.
He was admitted justice-general on 1 June 1675, appointed a lord of the treasury on 27 September 1678, nominated an extraordinary lord of session on 17 July 1680, and on 2 November of the same year appointed secretary of state in succession to the Duke of Lauderdale
. Previous to his appointment he was known as an active opponent of the Covenanter
s. In 1675 he specially exerted himself in putting down conventicles in Elgin
, and in March 1678 he was deputed by the council to London to encourage King Charles II
in his policy of repression. Afterwards he co-operated with James II
, not only in his unconstitutional procedure, but in his endeavours to introduce Roman Catholicism. In 1686, when an attempt was made to obtain toleration for the Catholics, he was nominated for this purpose Lord High Commissioner to the Scottish Parliament
, and in the following year he was made a knight of the Thistle. During the Glorious Revolution
he was deprived of all his offices. He died at Donibristle
on 1 November 1701, and was carried to Darnaway
and buried in the church of Dyke on 24 January 1702.
and Margaret Home. He married Emilia Balfour, daughter of Sir William Balfour
, in 1658. They had five children: James, Lord Doune; Charles
, 6th Earl of Moray; John; Francis
, 7th Earl of Moray; and Mary. In 1687, he became one of the founding knights in the Order of the Thistle
.
Order of the Thistle
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order...
(May 8, 1634 – November 1, 1701), was a Scottish nobleman who remained loyal to Roman Catholic James VII of Scotland (James II of England).
Biography
Alexander Stuart succeeded his father, JamesJames Stuart, 4th Earl of Moray
James Stuart, 4th Earl of Moray was the son of James Stuart, 3rd Earl of Moray and Anne Gordon. He married Margaret Home, daughter of Alexander Home, 1st Earl of Home and Mary Dudley, on 18 October 1627.-Notes:...
to the Earldom of Moray
Earl of Moray
The title Earl of Moray has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland.Prior to the formal establishment of the peerage, Earl of Moray, numerous individuals ruled the kingdom of Moray or Mormaer of Moray until 1130 when the kingdom was destroyed by David I of Scotland.-History of the...
on 4 March 1653. In 1654 he was under Cromwell's Act of Grace
Cromwell's Act of Grace
Cromwell's Act of Grace or more formally the Act of Pardon and Grace to the People of Scotland, was proclaimed at the mercat cross in Edinburgh on 5 May 1654...
fined £3,500 which was reduced to £1,166 13s., but in January 1656 he presented a petition for the remission of his fine, because he "was a child during the late differences", and because his estate was "small and much charged". On 22 January 1657 it was ordered that, on his giving security to the Council of Scotland to pay £500. before 1 February 1658, the residue of his fine should be remitted.
He was admitted justice-general on 1 June 1675, appointed a lord of the treasury on 27 September 1678, nominated an extraordinary lord of session on 17 July 1680, and on 2 November of the same year appointed secretary of state in succession to the Duke of Lauderdale
John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale
Sir John Maitland, 1st Duke and 2nd Earl of Lauderdale, 3rd Lord Thirlestane KG PC , was a Scottish politician, and leader within the Cabal Ministry.-Background:...
. Previous to his appointment he was known as an active opponent of the Covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
s. In 1675 he specially exerted himself in putting down conventicles in Elgin
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
, and in March 1678 he was deputed by the council to London to encourage King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
in his policy of repression. Afterwards he co-operated with James II
James II
James II may refer to:* James II, Count of La Marche , King Consort of Naples* James II , the second EP by Mancunian band James* James II of Aragon , King of Sicily...
, not only in his unconstitutional procedure, but in his endeavours to introduce Roman Catholicism. In 1686, when an attempt was made to obtain toleration for the Catholics, he was nominated for this purpose Lord High Commissioner to the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
, and in the following year he was made a knight of the Thistle. During the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
he was deprived of all his offices. He died at Donibristle
Donibristle
Donibristle was a house and estate in Fife, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth. Only the wings of the house remain, within the modern settlement of Dalgety Bay: they are now protected as a category A listed building...
on 1 November 1701, and was carried to Darnaway
Darnaway Castle
Darnaway Castle is located in Darnaway Forest, southwest of Forres in Moray, Scotland. This was Comyn land, given to Thomas Randolph along with the Earldom of Moray by King Robert I. The castle has remained the seat of the Earls of Moray ever since. Rebuilt in 1810, it retains the old...
and buried in the church of Dyke on 24 January 1702.
Family
Alexander Stuart was the son of James Stuart, 4th Earl of MorayJames Stuart, 4th Earl of Moray
James Stuart, 4th Earl of Moray was the son of James Stuart, 3rd Earl of Moray and Anne Gordon. He married Margaret Home, daughter of Alexander Home, 1st Earl of Home and Mary Dudley, on 18 October 1627.-Notes:...
and Margaret Home. He married Emilia Balfour, daughter of Sir William Balfour
William Balfour (general)
Sir William Balfour , of the family of Balfour of Pitcullo, Fifeshire, Scotland, was a general of the parliamentary forces during the English Civil War....
, in 1658. They had five children: James, Lord Doune; Charles
Charles Stuart, 6th Earl of Moray
Charles Stuart, 6th Earl of Moray was the son of Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray and his wife, Emilia Balfour. He acceeded to his father's titles in 1701 and died, unmarried, in 1735. He was succeeded by his brother, Francis.-Notes:*http://www.thepeerage.com/p2510.htm#i25097...
, 6th Earl of Moray; John; Francis
Francis Stuart, 7th Earl of Moray
Francis Stuart, 7th Earl of Moray was the son of Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray and his wife, Emilia Balfour. He married Jean Elphinstone, daughter of John Elphinstone, 4th Lord Balmerinoch and Christiana Montgomerie. He succeeded to his brother Charles's titles when he died unmarried in...
, 7th Earl of Moray; and Mary. In 1687, he became one of the founding knights in the Order of the Thistle
Order of the Thistle
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order...
.