John Leslie, 1st Duke of Rothes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Leslie(c 1630–1681), son of John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes, was the 7th Earl of Rothes and 1st Duke of Rothes. He was a descendant of Princess Beatrix, sister of King Malcolm III of Scotland. His family had been married to both the Stuarts and the Bruces.

King Charles II made him the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland, Lord Chancellor of Scotland for life, and President of the Privy Council of Scotland. He carried the sword of state at the coronation of Charles II. He was captured at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, returned to Scotland in 1655 and, on a payment of a fine to Oliver Cromwell, was set free. He married Anne Crawford-Lindsay, the daughter of John Lindsay, 17th Earl of Crawford. He built the Palace of Leslie (also known as Leslie House), which nearly burnt completely in a fire on Christmas Day 1763.

John died at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh on July 27, 1681. He was awarded a state funeral (the procession was over seventeen miles long). John left behind a huge debt to his daughter, Margaret Leslie. As he had no male issue, the Dukedom of Rothes became extinct, the Earldom only being passed to his daughter.

Preceded by: New Creation	Duke of Rothes 1680–1681	Succeeded by: Extinct
Preceded by: John Leslie	Earl of Rothes 1641–1681	Succeeded by: Margaret Leslie