Sir Alexander Seton, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Alexander Seton of Pitmedden, 1st Baronet, Lord Pitmedden (c. 1639 - May 29, 1719) was an M.P.
, an advocate, a Senator of the College of Justice
, and a Lord of Justiciary.
troops at the battle of the Bridge of Dee
and, while riding along the riverside with Lord Aboyne
was shot through the heart by a cannon-ball, age 29. John Seton's two sons were both infants at the time. With their mother, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Samuel Johnston, 1st Baronet of Elphinston, they were driven from their house which was plundered, and the whole rents of their estate seized by the Covenanter
s. Their mother remarried, the Earl of Harfell
, and the boys were taken in by their kinsman, George Seton, 4th Earl of Winton
, who later enrolled them both at the University of Aberdeen
. James Seton of Pitmedden, the elder brother, became an officer in the English Navy. During the Dutch attack on the English fleet at Chatham in 1667, he was severely wounded and died soon afterwards. He was succeeded by his brother, Alexander.
in 1664. He was appointed an Ordinary Lord of Session
on October 31, 1677, when he assumed the title of Lord Pitmedden. He was later appointed a Lord of Justiciary, on July 5, 1682.
On January 15, 1684, he was created a baronet of Nova Scotia by King Charles II
.
He represented Aberdeenshire
in the Scottish Parliament
in 1681, 1685, and 1686, and for his boldness and independence in opposing the repeal of the Test and Penal Laws proposed by King James VII, he was deprived by that monarch of his seat on The Bench. He was at the same time removed from the Court of Justiciary.
Upon the 1688 Revolution King William III
offered to reinstate him as one of the Lords of Session, which Sir Alexander declined feeling it inconsistent with his previous Oaths of Allegiance to James VII. He then retired from professional life.
In his private affairs he succeeded in recovering his family's estates from indebtedness, and possessed a vast library. He published an edition of Sir George Mackenzie
's Law of Scotland in matters Criminal, with a treatise on Mutilation and Demembration, annexed.
A painting of Sir Alexander Seton, Lord Pitmedden, hung in the ancient manor house of The Grange, Edinburgh
for centuries. It remains in the possession of the Lauder of Fountainhall family.
, by his spouse Katherine (d.1697), daughter of Thomas Hunter of Hagburne. They had ten children:
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, an advocate, a Senator of the College of Justice
College of Justice
The College of Justice is a term used to describe the Supreme Courts of Scotland, and its associated bodies.The constituent bodies of the supreme courts of Scotland are the Court of Session, the High Court of Justiciary, and the Accountant of Court's Office...
, and a Lord of Justiciary.
Early life
Alexander was a son of John Seton of Pitmedden who commanded a detachment of RoyalistCavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
troops at the battle of the Bridge of Dee
Bridge of Dee
The Bridge of Dee or Brig o' Dee is a road bridge over the River Dee in Aberdeen, Scotland. The term is also used for the surrounding area of the city. Dating from 1527, the bridge crosses at what was once the City of Aberdeen's southern boundary...
and, while riding along the riverside with Lord Aboyne
Viscount Aboyne
Viscount Aboyne was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created on 20 April 1632 for George Gordon, Earl of Enzie, eldest son of George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly, with remainder that the title should pass to his second son the Hon. James Gordon on his death or on the death of his...
was shot through the heart by a cannon-ball, age 29. John Seton's two sons were both infants at the time. With their mother, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Samuel Johnston, 1st Baronet of Elphinston, they were driven from their house which was plundered, and the whole rents of their estate seized by 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. Their mother remarried, the Earl of Harfell
James Johnstone, 1st Earl of Hartfell
James Johnstone, 1st Earl of Hartfell was a Scottish peer and royalist.-Background:He was the only son of Sir James Johnstone, the Warden of the West Marches and his wife Sarah, sister of William Maxwell, 5th Lord Herries of Terregles...
, and the boys were taken in by their kinsman, George Seton, 4th Earl of Winton
George Seton, 4th Earl of Winton
George Seton, 4th Earl of Winton was a Scottish Royalist, Privy Councillor, and Sheriff of Haddingtonshire.He was in Europe for his studies, a boy of under ten years of age, when he succeeded his grandfather in the family estates in 1650...
, who later enrolled them both at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
. James Seton of Pitmedden, the elder brother, became an officer in the English Navy. During the Dutch attack on the English fleet at Chatham in 1667, he was severely wounded and died soon afterwards. He was succeeded by his brother, Alexander.
Career
He passed Advocate at the Scottish Bar on December 10, 1661, and was knighted by King Charles IICharles 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 1664. He was appointed an Ordinary Lord of Session
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
on October 31, 1677, when he assumed the title of Lord Pitmedden. He was later appointed a Lord of Justiciary, on July 5, 1682.
On January 15, 1684, he was created a baronet of Nova Scotia by 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...
.
He represented Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
in 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...
in 1681, 1685, and 1686, and for his boldness and independence in opposing the repeal of the Test and Penal Laws proposed by King James VII, he was deprived by that monarch of his seat on The Bench. He was at the same time removed from the Court of Justiciary.
Upon the 1688 Revolution King William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
offered to reinstate him as one of the Lords of Session, which Sir Alexander declined feeling it inconsistent with his previous Oaths of Allegiance to James VII. He then retired from professional life.
In his private affairs he succeeded in recovering his family's estates from indebtedness, and possessed a vast library. He published an edition of Sir George Mackenzie
George Mackenzie (lawyer)
Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, Knt. , known as Bluidy Mackenzie, was a Scottish lawyer, Lord Advocate, and legal writer.- Origins :...
's Law of Scotland in matters Criminal, with a treatise on Mutilation and Demembration, annexed.
A painting of Sir Alexander Seton, Lord Pitmedden, hung in the ancient manor house of The Grange, Edinburgh
The Grange, Edinburgh
The Grange is a suburb of Edinburgh, about one and a half miles south of the city centre, with Morningside and Greenhill to the west and Newington to the east. It is a conservation area characterised by large late Victorian stone-built villas, often with very large gardens...
for centuries. It remains in the possession of the Lauder of Fountainhall family.
Marriage
He married, March 11, 1669, a cousin, Margaret (d. October 19, 1723), daughter and heiress of William Lauder (d.1695), a Writer (solicitor) and Clerk of the Court of SessionCourt of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
, by his spouse Katherine (d.1697), daughter of Thomas Hunter of Hagburne. They had ten children:
- Sir William Seton, 2nd Baronet, of Pitmedden, M.P., for AberdeenshireAberdeenshireAberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
(d. 1744). - Alexander, a military physician who served under the Duke of MarlboroughDuke of MarlboroughDuke of Marlborough , is a hereditary title in the Peerage of England. The first holder of the title was John Churchill , the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly refer to him.-History:The dukedom was...
. - James, a merchant in Danzig.
- Thomas, a physician.
- George, of Mounie, AberdeenshireAberdeenshireAberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, an advocate (d. 1762). - Elizabeth, married about 1693 Sir Alexander Wedderburn, 2nd Baronet, of Blackness.
- Margaret, married in 1696 Sir John Lauder, 3rd BaronetSir John Lauder, 3rd BaronetSir John Lauder of Fountainhall, 3rd Baronet was born 3 and baptised 5 December 1669 at Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. He died in February 1728 at Fountainhall manor, near Pencaitland, and was interred in the Lauder burial vault within Greyfriars...
, of Fountainhall. - Anne (1676-1764), married in 1707 Sir William Leslie Dick of The Grange, EdinburghThe Grange, EdinburghThe Grange is a suburb of Edinburgh, about one and a half miles south of the city centre, with Morningside and Greenhill to the west and Newington to the east. It is a conservation area characterised by large late Victorian stone-built villas, often with very large gardens...
. - Jean (d. 1768)
- Isabel