The Earls of Glencairn
editAlexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn
Alexander Cunningham was born sometime after 1425 (during the reign of King James I); he was the son of Sir Robert Cunningham of Kilmaurs and Anne Montgomerie. He married Margaret Hepburn, daughter of Sir Adam Hepburn of Hailes and Janet Borthwick.[1]
On February 8, 1462, King James II created Alexander, 1st Lord Kilmaurs. Then on May 28, 1488, King James III raised Alexander to the dignity of Earl of Glencairn. Alexander Cunningham, 1st Earl of Glencairn, fought on the side of King James at the Battle of Sauchieburn on June 11, 1488. Alexander was killed upon the Battle Field.[2]
Robert Cunningham, 2nd Earl of Glencairn
Robert Cunningham was the son of Alexander Cunningham and Margaret Hepburn. He married Christian, eldest daughter of John, first Lord Lindsay of Byres, and Agnes Stewart, sometime before June 19, 1476.[1]
The Act Rescissory by the Scottish Parliament of October 17, 1488, deprived Robert of the title of Earl Glencairn. Robert sat in Parliament as Lord Kilmaurs; Robert died sometime before 1492.[2]
Cuthbert Cunningham, 3rd Earl of Glencairn
Cuthbert Cunningham was the son of Robert and Christian Lindsay. There was a marriage between Cuthbert and Lady Marion Douglas signed on June 24, 1492.[1]
At the Wedding of King James IV and Margaret, daughter of King Henry VII of England, the Earldom of Glencairn was restored to the Cunningham and that of Cuthbert Cunningham, 3rd Earl of Glencairn.[3] He bravely at the Battle of Linlithgow (September 4, 1526), where he was wounded.[1] Cuthbert took a very active role in the feud between the Cunninghams and the Montgomeries. Cuthbert died between May 1540 and May 1541.[2]
William Cunningham, 4th Earl of Glencairn
William Cunningham was born circa 1493, the son of Cuthbert and Lady Marion Douglas. William was married twice, firstly, Catherine Borthwick, daughter of Sir William Borthwick, 2nd Lord Borthwick, before July 10, 1509. His second marriage was to Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of John Campbell.
William was Knighted in 1509, and He held the office of High Treasurer of Scotland between June 1526 and October 1526. He was the Scottish Envoy to France in 1538. In 1543 William the Scottish Ambassador to England was sent to negotiate peace with the English. William died in March 1547.[2]
Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn
Alexander was born in 1515, the son of William and Catherine Borthwick. He was married to Lady Janet Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran and Janet Bethune, on November 26, 1526. And secondly, Janet Cuninghame, daughter of Sir John Cuninghame, 4th of Caprington and Annabella Campbell, circa January 22, 1549.
Alexander went by the nickname of 'the Good Earl.' He was an enthusiastic Presbyterian during the Reformation, smashing altars and supposedly idolatrous objects in Holyrood Chapel. On Easter of 1556, Alexander invited John Knox to Finlayston House, where Knox distributed Holy Communion to his family and close friends. He fought in the Battle of Carberry Hill in 1567 and the Battle of Langside in 1568. Alexander passed away on December 23, 1574.[1]
William Cunningham, 6th Earl of Glencairn
William was born in 1535, the son of Alexander and Lady Janet Hamilton. On August 24, 1549, he married Janet Gordon, daughter of Sir James Gordon of Lochinvar and Margaret Crichton.
William was a member of the Privy Council. William died before October 18, 1580. [1]
James Cunningham, 7th Earl of Glencairn
James was born circa 1552, the son of William and Janet Gordon. He was married twice to firstly, Margaret Campbell, daughter of Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy and Catherine Ruthven, on September 5, 1574. And secondly, Agnes Hay, daughter of Sir James Hay, on July 14, 1612.
James succeeds his father's seat on the Privy Council. He was one of the Ruthven Raiders of 1582; he was exonerated from his complicity in the plot against James VI and I. James died sometime after March 1630. [1]
William Cuninghame, 8th Earl of Glencairn
William was the son of James and Margaret Campbell; he married Lady Janet Kerr, daughter of Mark Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian and Margaret Maxwell, circa 1609. William was dead before March 3, 1635. [1]
William Cuninghame, 9th Earl of Glencairn
William was born circa 1610. the son of William and Lady Janet Kerr. He was married twice, firstly, to Lady Anne Ogilvy, daughter of James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Findlater, and Lady Elizabeth Leslie, on April 5, 1637. And secondly, to Lady Margaret Montgomerie, daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 6th Earl of Eglinton, and Lady Anne Livingstone.
William was appointed Lord Justice-General for Scotland on November 13, 1646. In 1653 William took up arms to support King Charles II, raising a strong force. Upon the Restoration, the Monarch, King Charles II, William was appointed the Chancellor of Scotland for life. On May 30, 1664, William passed away at Belton in Haddingtonshire and was buried in St. Giles', Edinburgh. [1]
Alexander Cunningham, 10th Earl of Glencairn
Alexander was the son of William and Lady Anne Ogilvy. He married Nicola Stewart, daughter of Sir James Stewart of Kirkhill, circa 1660. Alexander did not enjoy the title Earl of Glencairn for long. He passed on May 26, 1670.[1]
John Cunningham, 11th Earl of Glencairn
John was the third son of William and Lady Anne Ogilvy. He was married twice, firstly, to Lady Jean Erskine, daughter of John Erskine, 21st/4th Earl of Mar and Jean Mackenzie, on August 5, 1673. And secondly, Margaret Napier, daughter of John Napier, before 1695.
John was an admire of King William; he raised a regiment of six hundred men to support the future King. He was appointed to Privy Council in 1689 and was named Governor of Dumbarton Castle. On December 14, 1703, John passed away at Finlaystone House. [1]
William Cunningham, 12th Earl of Glencairn
William son of John and Lady Jean Erskine. On November 20, 1704, he married Lady Henrietta Stewart, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 3rd Earl of Galloway, and Lady Mary Douglas.
He took the oaths and his seat in Parliament on July 11, 1704; like his father, he was a Privy Councillor and Governor of Dumbarton Castle. He died at Finlaystone House on March 14, 1734. [1]
William Cunningham, 13th Earl of Glencairn
William was the son of William and Lady Henrietta Stewart. He married Elizabeth Maguire, daughter of Hugh Maguire, on August 6, 1744.
William succeeded his father as Governor of Dumbarton Castle. He entered the Army in 1729 as a Captain of the 7th Foot, Major in the 52nd Foot in 1741, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 9th Foot in 1747, and Major-General of the Army in 1770. William passed away at Finlaystone House on September 9, 1775. [1]
James Cunningham, 14th Earl of Glencairn
James was born on June 6, 1749, the son of William and Elizabeth Maguire.
James was a Captain in the West Fencible Regiment in 1778, a Representative Peer of Scotland in 1780. He died on January 30, 1791, at age 41, unmarried.[1]
John Cunningham, 15th Earl of Glencairn
John was born in May 1750, the son of William and Elizabeth Maguire. He married sabella Erskine, daughter of Henry David Erskine, 10th Earl of Buchan, and Agnes Steuart, on April 23, 1785.
John started his life as an officer in the 14th Dragoons; after leaving the Army, John took holy orders in the Church of England. The Reverend John died at Coates on September 24, 1796, and is buried in St. St Cuthbert's churchyard, Edinburgh. John Cunningham, 15th Earl of Glencairn, died without having any male hires.[1]
Upon John's, the 15th Earl of Glencairn, The Earldom Glencairn became dormant.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o The Scots Peerage, By Sir. James Balfour Paul, Page 222 (Cunningham, Earl of Glencairn)
- ^ a b c d Ayrshire, its History and Historic Families, By William Robertson, Page 289 (Chapter VIII)
- ^ History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton, Vol. III.— Cunninghame, Part II, by James Paterson, Page 472