Life

Bellenden was born before 1606. He was the son of Sir James Bellenden of Broughton, and Margaret Ker. On 10 June 1661 he was created Lord Bellenden, was made treasurer-depute, and was placed on the privy council of Scotland

Privy Council of Scotland

The Privy Council of Scotland was a body that advised the King.In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of material on the political, administrative, economic and social affairs of Scotland...

. In 1662 John Maitland, 1st 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:...

, on the advice of his brother, managed to secure Bellenden's interest in his struggle with John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton

John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton

John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton was a Scottish army officer, who belonged to a Kincardineshire family which had held lands at Middleton since the 12th century....

 and faction over religious policy; and he is from that time one of his most frequent correspondents. He kept Lauderdale informed on the plans of James Sharp, to whom he was hostile.

When the treasurership was taken from John Leslie, 7th Earl of Rothes in 1668 and was put into commission, Bellenden was one of the commissioners. He was then in failing health, and was noted for his overbearing manners at the treasury board meetings, especially when, as was the case, his own accounts as treasurer-depute were called in question, or when any matter of precedence was in dispute.

He died during 1671. His title and fortune he left in 1668 to John Ker, the second son of the Earl of Roxburghe, later John Bellenden, 2nd Lord Bellenden.