James King (soldier)

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James King, later Lord Eythin, (1589 - 1652) was a Scottish soldier, who served in the Swedish army, and who later supported King Charles I in the English Civil War.

He was born on Warbester Hoy, in the Orkney Islands. He was recruited into the Swedish Army in 1615, and in 1622 he was a Captain in Ruthven's regiment. In 1636, he was a Major General and commanded the left wing of the Swedish Army at the Battle of Wittstock. Two years later, as a Lieutenant General, he was defeated at the Battle of Vlotho. Prince Rupert of the Rhine was captured by the victorious Imperialists. It was unfortunate that King blamed Rupert's boldness for the defeat, while Rupert in turn blamed King's caution.

After quarrels with the Swedish commanders, King was sidelined to duties in Stockholm, but ennobled. He travelled to England in 1639, where King Charles employed him initially as an adviser. After the Civil War broke out, King was created Lord Eythin and despatched to the continent to recruit experienced soldiers from the various European armies and acquire munitions. He returned to England in the suite of Queen Henrietta Maria. Landing at Bridlington, he was appointed Lieutenant General to the Marquess of Newcastle.

On July 2, 1644, Prince Rupert relieved York, where Newcastle's army had been besieged. He summoned Newcastle's troops to join him on Marston Moor, where he was preparing for battle with the Scottish and Parliamentarian besiegers. The meeting in the late afternoon between Rupert and King was apparently chilly. King fatefully dissuaded Rupert from attacking so late in the day, and from redeploying to a better defensive position. In the subsequent Battle of Marston Moor, the Royalist army was destroyed. Newcastle and his senior officers, among them King, went into exile in Hamburg.

In March 1650 he was to have taken part as Lieutenant General in Montrose’s expedition which initially landed in the Orkneys, but did not succeed in enlisting any men. He died in Stockholm, and was given a state funeral.