Earl of Seaforth

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Earl of Seaforth is a title in the peerage of Scotland. It was held by the family of Mackenzie from 1623 to 1716, and again from 1771 to 1781.

The Mackenzies trace their descent to Colin of Kintail (d. 1278), and their name is a variant of Mackenneth. Kenneth, the twelfth head of the clan, was made Lord Mackenzie of Kintail in 1609, and his son Colin, who succeeded his father as 2nd Lord Mackenzie in March 1611, was created earl of Seaforth in 1623.

Colin's successor was his half-brother George (d. 1651), who became the 2nd earl in 1633. George was alternately a royalist and a covenanter between 1636 and 1646, and was afterwards in Holland with Charles II, who made him Secretary of State for Scotland. His grandson, Kenneth, the 4th earl, followed James VII to France and was with the dethroned king in Ireland. Elevated by James in 1690, to Marquess of Seaforth (in the Jacobite peerage), he was sent to head a rising in Scotland. He was soon captured and imprisoned. He was released in 1697 and died in Paris in January 1701.

His successor was his son William, who joined the Jacobite standard at Braemar, during the rising of 1715, and then, having raised 3000 men, was present at the battle of Sheriffmuir and was appointed lieutenant-general of the northern counties. He also took part in the Jacobite enterprise of 1719, being wounded at Glenshiel. In 1716 he was attainted and his titles and estates forfeited; before his death in January 1740, he had been relieved of some of the penalties of his treason, although his titles were not restored. His son Kenneth (c. 1718-1761), who but for the attainder would have been the 6th earl, helped the English government during the rising of 1745, and was a member of parliament for some years.

His son Kenneth Mackenzie was created Earl of Seaforth in 1771, but his peerage became extinct when he died in August 1781. Although there were still heirs to the older earldom, this remained under attainder. Kenneth raised the regiment of Highlanders, the 78th (later known as 72nd) in 1778, known later as the 1st battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders.

There were two later short-lived creations of the lesser title Baron Seaforth, both for Mackenzies.

1 Lords Mackenzie of Kintail (1609)
2 Earls of Seaforth (1623)
3 Earls of Seaforth (1771)
4 Barons Seaforth (1797)
5 Barons Seaforth (1921)
6 See also
7 References

[edit] Lords Mackenzie of Kintail (1609)

Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Lord Mackenzie of Kintail (d. 1610/11)
Colin Mackenzie, 2nd Lord Mackenzie of Kintail (d. 1633) created Earl of Seaforth in 1623.

[edit] Earls of Seaforth (1623)

Colin Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth (died 1633)
George Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Seaforth (died 1651)
Kenneth Mor Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Seaforth (1635-1678)
Kenneth Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Seaforth (1661-1701)
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth (died 1740) (Declared forfeit 7 May 1716)